What’s your New Year’s Resolution this year? Is it to start working out regularly? Or perhaps being more productive, or even fixing your sleep schedule? Everybody has a New Year's Resolution, but many are unable to stick to them– psychologist studies found that 90% of New Year’s Resolutions are forgotten within a few months. As the year gets busier, many people forget and lose time to stay committed to their goal. Here are a few methods to get your New Year's Resolution achieved;
The main cause of people abandoning their New Year’s Resolutions is with the goal itself. The New Year brings a lot of overconfidence and causes false hope- unrealistic goals are created without time, speed, ease, and consequences being considered. When picking a New Year’s Resolution, make sure you consider as many factors as possible. Choosing a goal that can fit in with your schedule and is not too unreasonable will help make it seem less overwhelming, helping you feel more motivated to achieve it.
Another reason could be that your goal has no purpose and you aren’t asking why. Change is hard and if we don’t think about why we’re doing it, the goal won’t be reached. Terri Bly, a clinical psychologist stated, “Usually New Year's resolutions are optional things, and so if we hate doing it, any goal we set is just pain and we're not really sure what the reward is going to be, we’re not going to do it.” This is especially true for bigger goals which require a lot of change, such as working out daily or completely cutting out junk food. Asking why could help you reach your goals.
You can also make sure that you stay accountable. Share your resolution with a friend, family member, or even on social media. A study by Dr. Gail Matthews at the University of California shows that having an accountability partner or community can increase the likelihood of success. If you know someone else is checking in on your progress, it can encourage you to stay consistent. Plus, the support and encouragement you receive can be invaluable on the tough days when you may feel less motivated.
Ultimately, the key to sticking with your New Year’s Resolution is understanding that lasting change doesn’t happen overnight. With patience, determination, and a practical approach, you can turn your goals into achievements!
Written by: Karen Catchpole
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