Well, we’re about a month into the new year… who’s still going strong with their resolutions? If you said yes, this article might not be for you, but, for those who broke theirs within the first few days of 2024, welcome! Fortunately, it’s never too late to restart those resolutions! There are numerous reasons most people tend to break their resolutions and in this article, we’ve listed a few.
When talking about New Year’s resolutions, why is it that people often can’t stick to them or are not successful? It is found that over 80% of New Year’s resolutions are abandoned within a few months of the new year. To understand this problem, we have to take into account the psychology. Resolutions fail because they are typically too ambitious for the person to accomplish or they are not ready for change. People launch their resolutions based on a calendar, not when they are truly ready to change their habits, which is a response to the “fresh start effect”. The new year gives something called a false hope syndrome which is when individuals get an overwhelming sense of confidence and motivation that leads them to set unrealistic or overly broad goals for themself. Without a plan of action or specific goal, people tend to lose motivation, get overwhelmed, and give up.
Another factor is the concept of “ego depletion” developed by psychologist Roy Baumeister. It suggests that people have a certain amount of mental energy and self-control that can be put towards the resolution, but over time, the energy gets depleted. This results in giving up on the goal and returning to old habits. Additionally, resolutions that are framed out of negativity trick the mind into thinking they are doing something wrong. For example, language such as “do not” or “stop” depletes motivation and self-perception. With that being said, here are some ways to make your New Year’s resolutions successful!
3 Tips to Help Keep your Resolutions:
- Start Small!
Drastic changes to one’s life can be extremely difficult to maintain. Goals that take a lot of time and effort in your day that you are not used to are usually very unsustainable and will have you burnt out in no time. Sure, running 3 miles a day may feel good for the first week or so but for most people, this isn’t a suitable lifestyle and too ambitious of a resolution. Instead, try starting with running a mile every Sunday or so. By starting small, you are allowing yourself room to grow and expand your resolution and the year goes on. This way, you can save yourself from potential burnout and relieve pressure. Aim high, but remember that some goals should be taken in baby steps.
2.) Have a Support System!
Oftentimes it’s hard to hold ourselves accountable for our goals, especially within the first few weeks of setting them. Finding someone who will hold you accountable for following through with your New Year’s resolutions is huge and ensures extra motivation. Whether they’re family, friends, or anyone, having another person follow you along on your journey reminds you that you’re not alone. Have a friend with the same or similar resolution as you? Even better! This allows friends to hold each other accountable, relate to each other, and maybe even have some friendly competition.
3.) Take Time to Plan!
A main culprit that keeps people from reaching their goals is procrastination. With a loose and un-set schedule, you are more prone to forgetting, pushing back, or even ignoring your goal completely. Before you know it, your day is over and you’re out of time. This cycle repeats itself until BOOM! Say hello 2025. To help prevent this, we recommend setting aside specific times of the day or week to dedicate to your resolution. By setting this schedule and managing your time efficiently, you are more likely to follow through with your activities.
Final thoughts:
And, if all else fails, do what I did! Don’t set any resolutions. I didn’t set any resolutions this year which also means technically I haven’t broken any. Obviously, I’m kidding (kinda). It’s important to have goals and aspirations to become the best version of yourself. Just don’t forget that sometimes smaller steps are okay when you’re first starting, and it’s never too late to set new goals/resolutions (no matter the time of year).
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