The majority of folks, (about 2/3) feel some pressure to make a New Year’s resolution and of those that make one, roughly 90% fail to achieve any lasting success. But there’s excitement in the air, as the New Year represents a fresh start and when one thing comes to an end, something new must begin. And a New Year is something we all share together, on the same day.
Collectively, the desire to make resolutions can be very strong. Yet when we look back over the years at our track record, we have to wonder why we even bother if we know our chances of success are so slim? It must be our innate human optimism, as each New Year offers a chance to finally make our resolutions stick.
Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
Optimism alone though won’t improve the 90% failure rate. It might be important but it’s not enough to achieve the results you want. The problem with New Year’s resolutions is everyone wants to make a big, sweeping change but change is uncomfortable and nobody wants to be uncomfortable. On New Year’s with all the bubbly excitement, the tendency is to bite off more than you can chew.
Humans are hard-wired to fight against change and to overcome that natural changelessness we all suffer with, a one step at a time approach seems to work best. Change is a process that takes time, and a sequence of small steps is the most effective way to create long-term success. Folks tend to set goals that are far to big and while they’re possibly achievable, in reality, there are dozens of steps required to triumph. Setting smaller more immediate and attainable goals is the path to lasting change.
Step Change
The first step is determining whether you’re actually ready for change, because if you’re not, there’s little value in contemplating a resolution. And even when the desire’s there, you need to recognize whether you have the knowledge and resources to make change happen. Next up are barriers. Is there anything preventing the change you want? Then the possibility of relapse. What triggers do you need to be aware of on your new journey?
And these steps are just part of a larger process. Implementing small changes is a brick by brick sequence, in preparation for the larger life-style change that is your actual goal, (resolution). It’s good to ponder those big sweeping changes but then it’s time to get to work. Use your imagination to look at the goal from various angles, over various timelines and get a feel for where you want to be.
- What does it look like?
- What does it feel like?
- What do you need to achieve it?
- Knowledge is power – gather information.
- Break it down.
- Write it down.
- Find resources.
- Take action.
- Reward yourself.
Slow Down, Be SMART
Slow down and get it right the first time. The most popular resolutions folks make, all require a significant amount of research, planning and effort. When you’re going to make a big sweeping, life changing, mind altering resolution at the start of the New Year, give yourself some time to ponder it and come up with a plan. Perhaps you can make it into that 10% that are successful with their resolutions.
The other option is just take the easy way out and go with the minority – refraining from making any resolutions at all. It creates a lot less stress and you’re guaranteed of being successful; >) The most common resolutions around the Great Wide World every year are health related. Lose weight, exercise more, eat healthier or something similar nearly always top the list.
Whether you begin January 1st or June 21st, big life changing resolutions are difficult to achieve and it’s even more difficult to make them stick. So be SMART about it. Each change should be: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-based. Take your time and make small changes. Create routines and turn them into habits. Replace old habits that are barriers to your goal with new habits that drive you towards it.