8 Powerful Tips for How To Make 2018 New Year's Resolutions Successful
We are round the corner of the year 2017, and it's about now that we begin to recall our last year's resolutions. But the painful thing is to admit our failure to achieve them. What went wrong again? We were really determined to succeed last year and yet not many things achieved from our lists. Why is it so difficult to follow through and reach our goals as we initially intended to achieve?
Half of the population makes resolutions each New Year. Among the top resolutions are weight loss, exercise, quit smoking, better money management and debt reduction. But approximately 90% of people's resolutions fail by the second week of February because of the cause and effect relationship. You may think that if you lose weight, or reduce your debts, or exercise more, your entire life will change, and actually it doesn't, you may get discouraged and then you revert back to old habits.
Let's take a look at the 8 most common reasons why last year's resolutions were not successful.
1. You don't have social support. Whether it's quitting smoking, improving your fitness or going to the gym more often, don't do it alone. If you are someone who has a lower success rate then get a buddy for your better outcome. Surround yourself with people who inspire you to be more, do more, and have more. Remember, your buddy should be a positive force in your life, not a negative one.
2. You don't have realistic expectations. Many people make unrealistic resolutions and wonder why they fail. If you have never been to the gym and you want to start going 5 times per week, you might not be physically able to accomplish that. If you really want to workout 5 times a week, do it in small stages. In the first month go 3 times a week, then 4 times in the second month and finally 5 times in the third month. So be prepared for this investment of time and stay motivated until you have achieved your goals.
3. You don't have specific and written goals. "lose 5 kgs in 2 months" or "start running 5 km per week" are better resolutions than "losing weight" or "getting into shape" because they have specific targets to meet. When you don't have a step-by-step plan of how you are going to achieve it and what your desired outcome is then you might give up on your goals.
4. You don't have the right mindset. One of the biggest reasons that resolutions fail is because people give up too quickly. Wanting something and working towards getting it are two different things. For instance, last year you decided to quit smoking but didn't make an effort to avoid temptations, so after a week's time you relapsed into the old habits. If you are not mentally prepared for all the hard work, distractions, obstacles and setbacks that might be ahead of you, you will most likely fail.
5. You don't have time management skills. You had a goal, a plan and the best intentions. But when you combined it with regular community meetings or volunteering for a cause of your choice then life got busy and you got lost in one of your to-do lists. Managing your time effectively is not about crossing all the entries off your to-do list; it is about knowing what your priorities are and getting the right things done first.
6. You don't believe in yourself. If you have tried and failed to set a New Year's resolution several times in the past, I know it might be hard to believe in yourself. Doubt is a nagging voice in your head that will resist personal growth with every steps of its being. The only way to defeat doubt is to believe in yourself. Who cares if you have failed a time or two? This year, you can try again but better this time.
7. You don't enjoy the process. The goal isn't to add stress to your life, but rather to remove it. To get back in shape, make your plan with fun, simple and a doable way. That could be joining in any sport activity you love, joining a group exercise class so you can meet new people, or giving yourself break of one day per week where you forget about your training plan and exercise in any way you please.
8. You don't know your why. The biggest reason why most New Year's resolutions fail is that you know what you want but you don't know why you want it. For example you want to get fit, lose weight, or be healthy... but why is it that important to you?
The start of the New Year 2018 is the perfect time to turn a new page in your life and its accompanying fresh set of resolutions. Forget the failures of the past, and approach this year with only positive thoughts in mind. By making correction on the above steps, you will be able to fulfill your New Year's resolutions successfully. And finally, don't take yourself so seriously. Have fun and laugh at yourself when you slip, but don't let the slip hold you back from working towards your goal.
