Achieving Your New Years
Resolutions!
What is a New Year’s
resolution?
A New Year's resolution is a tradition,
most common in the Western Hemisphere, in which a person makes a promise to
participate in an act of self-improvement beginning on New Year's Day.
History of
the New Year Resolution.
- Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would
return borrowed objects and repay their debts.
- The Romans began each
year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of
January is named.
- In the Medieval era, the knights took the
"peacock vow" at
the end of the Christmas season each year
to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry.
Are New
Year’s Resolutions Successful?
Statistically New Year’s resolutions are not successful….. 75% of people
stick to their goals for at least a week, less than half (46%) are still on
target six months later and only 8% of people actually achieve one of their
resolutions and stick with it throughout the year!
It is important to remember that the New Year isn’t really meant to
serve as a catalyst for sweeping character changes. It is supposed to be a time
for people to reflect on their past year’s behavior and look at making positive
changes. People tend to make grand sweeping resolutions at New Year’s which are
fuelled by hope and a competitive edge as they try to ‘outdo’ other people’s
declarations.
Make Your
Resolutions Stick.
So if so many people fail to follow through on their resolutions how can
you make this year different? The following is a good guide to making and
following through on realistic resolutions.
- Start small – if your
goal is to eat healthier, make a vow to make one small change towards better
eating each week. If your goal is to get exercising, make a promise to yourself
to get your body moving 3 days a week.
- Make your
goals achievable – There is no point chasing a goal that you can’t reach, set a goal you
can reach each week, that all lead to the achievement of your greater goal. For
example if you want to have lost 10kg and be healthier and fitter by next New
Year, choose a goal of eating healthy and exercising , then break those goals
down again into smaller goals of changing 1 thing about your eating each week
and going for a 15 min walk each day. Those goals are easily achieved and you
can build upon them to eventually grab that bigger goal!
- One thing at
a time – Don’t try to create a complete life overhaul all at once, change one
action or behaviour at a time, focus on that step and celebrate your small
successes at each stage along the way.
- What’s your
why? – think about the deeper reason you want to achieve your goal. I don’t
mean dropping a few kg so you can wear a bathers (though for some people that
will be motivation enough),but things like being able to
play with your kids, or preventing diabetes. …..what is your REAL reason for
wanting to reach that goal the thing that will drive you when the going gets
tough.
- Tell people
your plans – This is called accountability, the more people you tell the less
chance you have of not following through.
- Be realistic – Real
change takes time, it may take several failures, as you learn the best road to
achieving your goals… but whatever you do don’t beat yourself up if you fail –
see it as a lesson learned on what not to do next time.. Then jump back up and
give it another go.
- Get backup-This is
about creating a support network, don’t tell people who will be negative about
your goals, seek out those who will encourage you, who understand your desire,
who will give you a push when you need it.
- Use whatever
it takes – Join a gym, hire a Health Coach, put a new app on your phone, keep a
food diary… whatever means it takes to help you reach your goals. What works
for you may not have worked for others and visa-versa, you have to try
different things to find what works for you.
- Find a
mentor – seek out someone who is where you want to be, mimic their actions
their behaviours, if you want to be successful then do what a successful person
does. It may not be 100% right for you but it will give you a starting point to
adapt your own behaviours to.
- Reward your
success – People often wait until they gain their biggest goal before being
ready to celebrate… don’t! Every step you get in the right direction is a cause
for celebration. Behavioural change isn’t easy but it is rewarding when you can
look back and see the changes you have made making an overall difference to
your life. There are lots of ways to celebrate, make a facebook post, buy a new
outfit, take a photo, get a new hairdo, tell your friends, however you choose!