New Year’s Resolutions look so good on paper: you make your list of things that you want to improve to start the New Year, and looking at that list, you can’t help but feel good about yourself just for coming up with those ideas. Losing weight! Getting in shape! Eating better! You have so much enthusiasm for how great the year is going to be.
Of course, the reality is that most of us don’t succeed at our New Year’s resolutions. When January 2nd rolls around, the enthusiasm that we had on New Year’s day drops off. With every new day, our determination wanes more and more until we ultimately fall into the bad habits we had before. We’re not being depressing; Forbes estimates that 40% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, but only 8% are successful at keeping them.
Don’t think making a resolution is folly, however! Making resolutions is a great way to identify things in your life that make you unhappy. These might be deep-rooted habits, unhealthy life choices, or personal problems that need to be addressed. Sometimes even the act of identifying problems can be the first step in changing them.
So what separates resolutions that are doomed to fail and those that will go on to make major changes? Many studies have been conducted on the issue, and most outcomes conclude that a successful New Year’s resolution comes down to two things: feasibility and readiness.
A New Year’s resolution’s feasibility is all about understanding your current limitations and making sure that a resolution isn’t too lofty. While resolutions often tackle major obstacles or habits in our lives that we would like to see resolved or changed in some way, it is unreasonable to expect so much out of ourselves immediately and drastically. For instance, if you are starting out at your first job, it is unreasonable (in most cases) to make your New Year’s resolution to become the boss by the end of the year.
The second reason why people fail at their New Year’s resolutions is preparation. Just because it isn’t January 1st yet doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be looking ahead to what your resolutions are going to be. If you are planning on going on a diet starting January 1, for instance, you should take time and get rid of unhealthy foods that you’re planning on cutting. Bad preparation works against you in the long run and sets you up for failure. You can’t run a marathon without jogging first; similarly, you can’t succeed at your New Year’s resolution if you’re just going into it cold.
Finally, one last way to boost your chances of having a successful New Year’s resolution is to get your significant others on board with your plan. Many people appreciate and are motivated by the accountability found in friends and families who are aware of your resolutions. Have them check in on you from time to time. The purpose isn’t to shame you if you’re not succeeding; the purpose is to have people who are cheering you on and wanting you to feel and be your best!
Setting a New Year’s Resolution can be a great way to improve your life. If you’re ready to start changing your bad habits, set periodic goals—just because it is a New Year resolution doesn’t mean that you can’t set milestones throughout the year that you want to hit. Follow these tips and you’ll be in the small, albeit successful minority of Americans that find success with their New Year’s Resolutions.
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