Year after year we make resolutions, fully knowing that most resolutions don’t last more than a few weeks. About 40% of Americans make resolutions and about 90% of resolutions fail. Why can’t most people make a resolution stick? It actually has more to do with how we approach these goals than the goals themselves. Getting healthier, getting more organized, being better connected with long lost family and friends, gaining financial stability, and other common resolutions are great goals to set but they require the right approach.
Resolutions often fail for a number of reasons, among them: we give up too easily, we think too big, we’re too vague, we preannounce our plans, and we expect to fail. Fighting these pitfalls takes just a little adjustment in your planning and your mindset.
We give up too easily: Avoid an all-or-nothing mindset and accept that there will be slip ups and set-backs along your journey.
We think too big: Aim for smaller incremental changes and feel proud of small successes. Don’t expect to lose 50 pounds in one month!
We’re too vague: Make your resolution a specific way of achieving a larger goal. Instead of saying that you want to exercise more, try setting a specific goal of walking for 30 minutes a day.
We preannounce our plans: Informing everyone you know about your New Year’s resolutions puts a tremendous amount of pressure on you and if you can’t follow through on your resolution, your setback will be very public. Writing down your goals and just announcing your plans to yourself, will be a more private way to hold yourself accountable.
We expect to fail: Resolutions can be more of a gesture than a well thought-out plan and with so many resolutions failing, it’s easy to call it quits without anyone taking notice.
If you are serious about making changes in your life in the year ahead, recognize that setbacks do not mean you have to abort your goals. Resolutions can be made any day of the year not solely on January 1st. And, if you should need some help,
BHS, our employee assistance program, might be able to offer you the encouragement and resources you need.
BHS can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no additional cost at 888-784-5665.