For many, the start of a new year is the perfect opportunity to make a big life change. While resolutions can be anything from achieving a goal to breaking a bad habit, statistics show commitment is an issue for most. According to reports from 2019, less than 8% of Americans were likely to see their resolutions all the way through to completion. Though it may seem like failure is all but assured, there are plenty of simple adjustments you can make to your attitude and lifestyle to increase your odds of success.
Too Hard, Too Fast
Burnout is the leading factor for most people giving up on a resolution. If you’re looking to lose weight, you might go overboard with exercise and diet during January. Making such drastic changes to your routine at once means you’re likely going to give up before February ends. Pacing yourself is key when attempting something new or difficult. Naturally, you’re going to have a sense of enthusiasm about your resolutions. The trick is curbing this passionate feeling and learning how to apply it in an even way.
When your goal is to get in better shape, start by making small changes you can commit to. Instead of thrusting yourself into an intense daily workout regimen, begin with a single day each week. As you get more comfortable, increase how often you exercise and the duration and difficulty level of each session. Easing into these changes to your routine significantly increases the likelihood you’ll keep with the new pace instead of reverting back to your own status quo.
Be Easy on Yourself
People often struggle with showing themselves the same kindness they extend to friends, family, and even strangers. If you’re too harsh on yourself when it comes to sticking with your resolutions, you’re going to have a harder time seeing yourself to the finish line. For some, breaking habits like smoking or vaping can be a top priority. Since nicotine causes both physical and mental addiction after consistent use, putting an end to this habit can prove challenging. When you find yourself struggling to commit, it increases the odds you’ll cave and give up altogether to quell the addiction’s pull.
Learn to forgive yourself — the shift in attitude can start to yield better results. Should you have a cigarette after a few days of abstaining, try to fight the feeling that you’ve totally gone against your goal. Instead, view it as a minor setback on your road to victory. A shift in perception can provide the motivation you need to stick with your decisions.
Engage and Discuss
Many people keep their resolutions to themselves out of fear that they will make a public display of their failure. While there’s nothing wrong with keeping your goals off of social media, you should definitely express your hopes out loud. Talking with people you love about your resolutions can help bring the desires to life. Ideas have a way of living in abstraction when stuck within your mind. By verbalizing your intentions to someone else, you will hear the thought in a way that makes it feel real. The more you talk about it, the more refined your goal becomes.
Avoid the Pressure
An impulse to make a big change as the year draws to a close is natural, but this is far from the only time to think about resolutions. The pressure to commit can be intense and often has an adverse effect on the outcome. Having a hard start time of January 1st doesn’t work for everyone. Pick a different date and see if it changes your motivation.
Committing to a resolution is far from a simple task. Find a process that works for you and go through the necessary trial and error to see yourself to success.
Add Your Comment