Every year, people start the year with hope and a positive mindset. We buy a gym membership, start a weight-loss program, and stock up on self-help books. We resolve, “This year will be my year!”
If you have already failed to keep your New Year’s resolutions, you are not alone. In fact, a fitness company found that many people abandoned their resolution by the second Friday in January.
About four out of five people will abandon their New Year’s resolution by mid-February. Less than 10% actually achieve their goals.
Studies show that many people give up quickly on their resolutions.
Why does this happen? The goals we set are often based on our current state … the person we are right now. But when we dream big, the person capable of achieving those goals isn’t our old self; it has to be a transformed, more capable version of us.
Most people start the year with good intentions and clear objectives, but they quickly get stuck in a loop of knowledge without action. They try a new diet or read a new book, but they never finish or never apply what they’ve learned.
In short, we know what to do, but we stay the same … carrying limiting beliefs, outdated habits, and fears that hold us back.
The most common mistake we make with resolutions is to treat them like a checklist to complete rather than an invitation to become a new version of ourselves. Before achieving anything in the external world, you must work on your internal world, your beliefs, your habits, and your emotions.
If you, like most people, have already “fallen off the wagon” and failed to achieve your New Year’s resolution, remember that it’s never too late to get back on the wagon. It’s a new day and a new opportunity to form better habits.
Here are some suggestions for creating better habits:
- Avoid tempting situations. If you always stop for a doughnut on your way to work, try a different routine.
- Replace unhealthy behaviour with healthy ones … try exercise, a favourite hobby, or spending time with family.
- Prepare mentally and make a list of the people and things that can support you.
- Reward yourself for small steps. The journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step.
I no longer make New Year’s resolutions. I have not found them to produce lasting change. I view the year-end as an opportunity to review what went well in life during the past year and what I would like to improve on. From there, I can take steps to improve in the future. That means my goals are more achievable. It might involve getting outside help for finances, health, or recreation.
