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Roughly 40% of people make New Years resolutions, and some 90% of those resolutions are abandoned before the end of the year, according to Yahoo Life.
The main reason most people fail at their resolutions is “simply blind optimism,” clinical psychologist Nicole Siegfried told the outlet. Most resolutions are too big or completely immeasurable, so can’t be broken down into tiny steps to achieve them.
A prime example of a failed resolution is the age-old “working out more.” What does this even mean? “People don’t take into account concrete planning and the motivation behind the gym membership,” therapist and author Gina Moffa explained. “Is it just to lose weight? Is it just to get into shape?” (RELATED STORY: New Year’s Resolutions Come From Babylon, Apparently)
Most people want the sensation of immediate gratification, which doesn’t come easily in any situation in life. “Most people tend to want a more immediate outcome, and when it’s proven that it can take time, commitment and discipline, they tend to give up,” Moffa added.
There Is Hope
Siegfried suggested trying the S.M.A.R.T technique, which states that goals should be “Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.” For example, instead of saying, “I want to improve my health,” change it to, “I want to reduce my overall weight by X amount of pounds by sticking to a regular fitness regime.”
“I recommend focusing on behavior change rather than outcome,” says Siegfried. Another example would be: instead of getting in shape via running, say to yourself, “I am going to run X number of miles per day for the next X weeks or months.”
And remember to share your goals with others so they can help you stick to it, and keep you motivated when you need it. (POPULAR STORY: US Holiday Budgets By City)
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