Do you have any New Year’s resolutions? Here’s how to keep them.
According to a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire, 78% of people who make New Year’s resolutions will not follow through with them. Their resolutions will fail.
That basically means we’re setting ourselves up for failure by deciding to participate in New Year’s resolutions. Isn’t that encouraging? No? I didn’t think so either.
However, when I see statistics such as this, it only makes me want to succeed a wee bit more. Defy the typical…or something like that. I love a good challenge, what can I say? Perhaps you don’t feel this way, which would be perfectly understandable–we’re not all into being challenged–but don’t let discouraging statistics get to you.
If you want to keep your New Year’s resolutions, the most important thing is to decide that you want to do just that. Get into the mindset of keeping your resolutions and that just might very well happen.
Of course that makes it sound like a lot easier than it really is, but the amount of determination you have can end up being what keeps you from being part of the 78 percentile [aka the failures.]
Another key factor in successful New Year’s resolutions is choosing something that is realistic and specific. If you decide that your resolution is going to be that you will save a bunch of money, you’re probably going to fail…hate to be the one who breaks it to you.
It just isn’t a specific enough resolution. How will you save all that money? Will you stop your shopaholic tendencies, or will you cut down on eating out? The more specific and realistic you are with your resolutions, the more likely it is that you’ll follow them.
If you want your resolution to be that you’ll quit smoking, but know deep down inside that you’re not going to be able to do that, then don’t make quitting your New Year’s resolution.
It’s not realistic and you’re setting yourself up for failure. It may be your choice to quit smoking, but that doesn’t mean it’s realistic, at least for you personally it isn’t.
The next good little tip I have for you is that you should decide on just one New Year’s resolution. I know I’ve used the plural form of ‘resolution’ in this article, but if you really have your heart set on succeeding, it’s best to settle on just one. It’s easier when you only have one resolution to concentrate on and not a whole pack of them.
The more resolutions you have, the more likely it is that at least one of them will fail. Then, if one fails, it might discourage you enough to make you fail your others and then where would you be? You’d be in the failing 78 percentile and no one likes being a failure.
Speaking of failing brings us to our next tip for successful New Year’s resolutions; remind yourself that you’re not perfect, especially when it comes to resolutions (no one is). So prepare yourself to accept the fact that you’ll probably make a few mistakes while attempting your New Year’s resolution, but don’t let that defeat you.
If we never made mistakes, life wouldn’t be about learning but only repetition and what would be the point in that? If something goes wrong with your resolution, learn from it and tell yourself that you’ll be on guard for that something if it comes around again
And now the last tip I have for you today is to avoid repeating past New Year’s resolution failures. If your New Year’s resolution, for the past 3 years, has been to lose 20lbs, and you’ve failed each time, try doing something else instead.
If your goal is to lose some weight, make it your resolution to give up drinking soda, eating at fast food restaurants, or having desert after dinner. Instead of just saying your New Year’s resolution is ‘to lose 20lbs,’ go directly to the source and cut it out of your life.
If your new (not repeated) New Year’s resolutions are a success, the weight loss will inevitably follow. Easy as cake…but don’t have any cake. Just as it was in the beginning of this article, that probably sounds a lot easier than it really is, but how determined are you? If you’re determined, you can make it happen. Justin Bieber and me believe in you (never say never.)
When you use the failed ‘lose 20lbs this year’ resolution over and over again, you’re chances of failing are automatically higher, because you’ve previously failed, so you’re not scared about failing again. It essentially makes your resolution ‘no big deal.’
If you change it up a bit, and have a healthy amount of determination, you’re destined to be a winner. Ignoring the corniness of that sentence, it actually sounds like a pretty good deal, right?
I’m not trying to pretend to be some ‘New Year’s resolution guru,’ and all that I’ve said above are things that I needed to be reminded of as well.
In fact, I honestly can’t think of a New Year’s resolution that I’ve actually completed, successfully. I’m not very old so I’m going to use the excuse of not having a serious one that I really wanted to complete.
On the other hand, this year is different; I’m all grown up and I consider my resolution for 2013 to be a major feat to accomplish. Unfortunately, we’re out of time to discuss exactly what my New Year’s resolution for 2013 is, but don’t worry it will soon have its very own post.
I wish you the best of luck with your New Year’s resolutions and I recommend all of you have at least one. If you don’t challenge yourself, what will happen when others challenge you? Food for thought…anyways, happy New Year.
P.S. Since you read shenkitup.com, you’re already awesome in my book…even if all your New Year’s resolutions are complete failures. If that doesn’t make you feel special, nothing probably will.
I think I’m a bit lucky with the genes and upbringing on this one, because I come from a family of serious athletes, and that was all we did from birth–set goals, compete with each other, and try to out-perform each other. All 7 of us. I know we live in an “everybody wins track” culture now(they really have that at my niece’s middle school-no joke), and someone will read this, and think my parents were abusive with the goal charts everywhere in our house, but this upbringing really helped us in life. I don’t think a day goes by that I’m not looking at my short and long term goals, because it’s just such a habit. I have a 5K run the end of January with most of my family members(The Color Run in Tempe) to be ready for. I’ve been meeting my mini running goals for months now. The pressure is on as always, and it’s nice!
I can’t wait to read your resolution, and I hope you’re enjoying your German breakfasts! I love those!
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