It's that time of the year again when people begin thinking about the New Year and the changes it will bring. Some people make New Year's resolutions to get a better job, get married, or simply to get a new life. But one of the most common resolutions is to lose weight or in general become more fit.
The New Year often is like a fresh start; a good opportunity to eliminate bad habits and establish new routines that will help you grow psychologically, emotionally, socially, psychically or intellectually. While resolutions are mostly well-intentioned, most people fail at keeping them. Time and time again, you hear people talk about setting New Year's resolutions, yet they don't keep them. With all the hype surrounding these promises, it's easy to not to take them seriously. And the fact is that the same pattern occurs every year.
Why do my resolutions fail?
There are lots of reasons why this may happen. The most common ones being:
- You set unrealistic goals,
- The goal no longer interests you,
- You forget what the goal was,
- You do not evaluate your progress and reassess from time to time etc.
The good news is that you can absolutely experience success with your new year's resolutions if you are willing to adopt new techniques. Here are a few:
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Be realistic: It goes without saying that most New Year's resolutions are easier announced (or written) than done and the surest way to fall short of your goal is to make your goal unattainable. Setting a goal of completely changing your life, your career, your family relations, etc. is too broad. So make sure you take baby steps. This also helps you plan effectively to achieve the goal.
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Be specific in your resolutions: Think through exactly what you're going to do, what changes you'll make and how. For example, if your resolution is to lose weight, then consider exactly what changes you are going to make to your eating habits and exercise in order to achieve it.
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Plan ahead: Planning is an essential part of achieving any goal. Being specific about your goals is, in part, tied to being realistic. Develop specific, concrete ways to reach your goal, but keep each step along the way small. Don't wait till the last moment, start your planning process before the winter holiday starts. You can start by writing down your goal, making a list of things you will do to achieve that goal.
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Dissect the goal: Break the larger goal into small attainable task. Taking on too much is a common reason why so many New Year's Resolutions fail. A large goal can be overwhelming and impossible to achieve ever, but the secret is to break it into smaller tasks that eventually add up to achieving your goal. These small tasks must be easily attainable.
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Talk about your goal: While most people keep their goals secret, this is not advisable. Don't keep your resolution a secret. Tell friends and family members who will be there to support your resolve to change yourself for the better or improve your health. There's nothing like a workout buddy to motivate you. Better than encouragement, see if you can find some friends who have the same New Year's resolution! This way you can stick together, accomplishing more.
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Track your progress: Keep track of each small success you make toward reaching your larger goal. Keep a resolution journal and write down important information about when the relapse occurred and what might have triggered it. Whether it's a friend's party or desserts eaten - you can look back and know what not to do in the future. Don't fuss over your failures. Instead ponder over what diverts you from your track and how you can help yourself.
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Reward yourself: Reward yourself whenever you've accomplished a goal. Celebrate your success by treating yourself to something that you enjoy that does not contradict your resolution. For example: If you've been sticking to your promise to eat better, perhaps your reward could be going to a movie with a friend.
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Prepare for setbacks: Whatever your goal is, you will find periods in which you will lose a little ground toward achieving your goal. Don't be de-motivated, accept the setback and move forward. Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new activity, such as exercising, to become a habit, and 6 months for it to become part of your personality. Learn what you can from the experience so you don't repeat it and keep going. The key to success is not in being perfect. In fact, success is often found in our failures, but only if we allow them to teach us something.
The beginning of a new year is a wonderful time to decide or "resolve". Keeping these few simple tips in mind this New Year may help to increase your chances of success.
