New Year's Resolutions - Top 3 Reasons Resolutions Fail and How You Can Avoid Them
It's that time of year when everyone reflects on their past and envisions their future. A time when people resolve to be better in whatever areas of their life they chose. Such a romantic and inspiring idea. So then, why do so many resolutions fail year after year?
There may be many reasons given for breaking a resolution, but in reality there are only three true reasons. Some are harsh, but understanding the underlying reasons can help you avoid being tripped by them. Here are the top three reasons resolutions fail, and how you can avoid them.
The work involved is underrated
It's very easy to look at the end result and say "Yes! I want that!" only to find out a few weeks later that it's going to take much more than you bargained for to get that result.
The best example is weight loss. "Lose weight" is such a popular resolution that department stores now begin rolling out center-store displays and mega-sales on athletic wear right around December 26th . But any gym employee can tell you the place will be so full there's a line around January 3 rd , and back to a practical ghost town by February. Millions are spent on athletic gear that is destined to become pajamas or be donated with little signs of wear.
Why is this the case every year? Because most people tend to see the body type they want and excitedly jump at the opportunity to have it. And, because they're also the same people who have yet to attain that ideal body for the last ten years, they still don't quite know what they're signing up for.
Instead, try doing a bit of research and reflection before deciding on a life-changing resolution. You might find that it takes months of hard, dedicated, and consistent effort. In the case of weight loss, you not only need to stop eating all the Christmas chocolates; you will need to find an exercise routine that works for you, make the time in your calendar to do the workout, and probably make dramatic changes to your diet.
Discovering that your resolution will take a lot of work is not, however, a reason to give it up. In fact, realizing the amount of work required is the absolute best way to prepare you and ensure you reach your goal. This is where the reflection comes in: you will need to decide if you want the end result badly enough to actually put in the work required.
The resolutions are too generic
We've all heard the same five or so resolutions repeated over and over:
Lose weight
Quit
Give more to charity/volunteer more
Save money/pay down debt
Travel more
These resolutions all sound good, and they're generally what all of us want, right?
Wrong. Too often we make resolutions because they sound good on a generic level, but when it really comes down to it, some of us don't want to travel. Some of us don't give a hoot about dieting or losing weight. Some of us like our vices.
The key to achieving any goal is to set one you actually want to attain, not one that sounds good to everyone else. So instead of making a list of five to ten generic resolutions that sound good, think very deeply on just one or two that really mean something to you. Goals that, if you achieved them, would truly bring you joy. If it makes you feel better, you don't even have to tell anyone about them.
Most of us are in the habit of breaking commitments
Along with the top five repeated resolutions, you'll probably also hear the oh-so-popular jest that resolutions are made to be broken. Unfortunately for most of us, that's actually not a joke.
Failing to keep resolutions is in the same realm as failing to keep any promise you make to yourself (or others.) In fact, many of us break resolutions simply because we're in the habit of breaking commitments.
"I'll be there at 2:30" means you'll be there around 3:00. "I am going to stop eating candy" is forgotten within 24 hours.
These may seem like small things, and indeed they are. That's the point: we build our habits on small actions every day, and doing things like saying you'll be up at 5:30 and then setting a "just in case" alarm for 6:30 guarantees that you are building the habit of not honoring commitments.
Try rebuilding your "promise muscle" with small actions. Set alarms for small things like "call mom like you said you would" and use a planner for large things like "Sara's dance recital at 5PM - You promised!" This will make it much easier to work on larger goals like New Year's Resolutions, and check off one of America's favorites for you: be less stressed.