We make them every year and according to a new study we break them every year as well. We are of course talking about the New Year’s resolution. Whether it be to start the new year afresh with a clean slate or just a slight tweak to your lifestyle, psychologists say we rarely keep our resolutions and when we break them we become more depressed in the process. So should we even try?
There may be a way to make them stick if we understand why people have failed at keeping them. An article from the Guardian talks about a study from the University of Hertfordshire that surveyed 700 people about their strategies of trying to keep their New Year’s resolutions. From losing weight to giving up bad relationships less than a quarter of the respondents were able to stick to their resolutions.
Of the 78 percent who failed, most of them had focused by fantasizing about success and relying on willpower alone. Psychologist Richard Wiseman , who led the study, told the Guardian, "If you are trying to lose weight, it’s not enough to stick a picture of a model on your fridge or fantasize about being slimmer."
So what is the secret to successfully keeping your New Year’s resolutions? The study reveals that people who kept their goals broke them into smaller steps and gave themselves rewards as they achieved each step. They also let their friends in on their resolutions and kept a diary documenting their progress. Making one resolution at a time led to the best results as well as regarding the occasional lapses as just temporary setbacks that you can work through. Wiseman says, "Many of the most successful techniques involve making a plan and helping yourself stick to it."
What do you think of the study revealing most people fail at keeping their resolutions?
Have you had success with sticking to your New Year’s goals in the past?
I am determined this year to eat healthier,lose weight and exercise more!!
mgrace2you::
on Jan 12, 2010
I agree completely with angelasp71! I am determined to do all these things!!!! I think reading inspiring stories every now and then will help keep me motivated.
LokiBunnie::
on Jan 27, 2010
I had a revelation this year. Why not celebrate what you did well in the prior year, and resolve to continue it? For me, New Year resolutions are about negatives, not positives. When I feel positive about myself, I do better in the future.
KarmiRose::
on Jan 27, 2010
I've never made a New Years resolution, but this year I really hope to lose all the baby weight I have! But I can't start my new years resolution until I save up some money to get myself a gym membership! I have been eatting healthier though, so I would like to stay I'm sort of sticking to my resolution!
msgimme::
on Jan 28, 2010
So far I've kept my New Years resolution , I decided to quit smoking (after 38 yrs.). I had a little help form my Dr. , he wrote me a prescription for Chantix ! It made it easier to quitting . If you smoke , try Chantix as an aid to quit . You may be glad you did.
laughoutlouder::
on Jan 28, 2010
the secret to keeping your resolution, for me is to put little reminders in places around ur house where u can see them all the time, put a note on ur cabnet so everytime u open it u will be reminded. it works for me.
corinetin::
on Jan 29, 2010
This is my first resolution...I KNOW I will achieve my goal because I don't have the quitter attitude. Most people fail at their resolution because of lack of motivation! So far I doing AWESOME with keeping mt resolution! Good Luck to all!!!!
hollyann1010::
on Feb 13, 2010
An easy way to keep your New Years resolution is to set short term goals. Then once you have accomplished that goal you feel like you can really accomplish a bigger goal and you just build yourself up until you reach that long term goal.
