New Year, New You: Or Just the Same
Nearly everyone makes New Year’s resolutions, but do they ever stick to them? Whether it’s losing weight, journaling more, career goals, saving money, or bettering relationships with those around you, New Year’s resolutions are spat out around this time every year. But do they matter?
According to Fisher College, only 9 percent of people who make New Year’s resolutions follow through. So why is this? Why is it so hard for people to stick with meeting their goals? Well, for one, many people set goals that are likely too unobtainable for whatever reason. For example, make your New Year’s resolution to quit eating sugar altogether. While this is something obtainable, it will take a lot of work. Quitting cold turkey will likely lead you back into the cycle of eating sugar, which is precisely what you want to stop doing. Instead, give yourself short-term goals that lead you toward eventually cutting sugar entirely out of your diet. You may cut 10 grams of your daily intake each month, which will get lower and lower as the year progresses.
Another reason New Year’s resolutions typically fail is because you expect them to be easy, and you don’t anticipate obstacles that might come along the way, as stated in the Harvard article. Achieving a goal requires perseverance, even when things get difficult or you encounter bumps. For example, say you make a goal to work out daily. This is easier said than done. In theory, it sounds like an easy, achievable goal, but everyone has days where they lack motivation, can’t find time, or just aren’t feeling well. It is essential to stay consistent and expect things to be easy. Remember that every day isn’t “perfect” for achieving your goal, but still showing up on days that feel “off” is the most important. If you mess up, don’t quit; get back on track
Holding yourself accountable is crucial to staying on track with your New Year’s resolutions. Writing down your resolutions and making game plans for accomplishing them makes you twice as likely to achieve them. Some other ways to hold yourself accountable for your resolutions include telling friends and family about your goal, creating a calendar to write things out step by step, or creating a group of people with the same goal. This way, you remember your New Year’s resolution, and you can feel more motivated to keep up with it, considering that other people around you know about it. Holding yourself accountable is also essential, so consider writing your goals or setting a reminder on your phone.
While New Year’s resolutions usually fall through the cracks early in the year, there are ways to feel like you accomplished what you wanted at the end of the year. Take it upon yourself to stick with your resolutions this year and make yourself proud.
