New year’s resolutions are a way of turning a new page and an opportunity to implement positive life changes. Some of them might be easier said than done, which is probably why most resolutions fall through by March. A study showed that only 12 % of people who made their new year’s resolutions felt that they successfully achieved their goals.
However, this does not mean you should not set your goals because another study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, indicated that those who set new year’s resolutions are 10 times more likely to actually change their behaviour.
This means that the spirit of the new year might lead people to bite off more than they can chew, but with these tips, you will be able to set your goals in a way that does not overwhelm you down the line.
Tips to keep your new year’s resolutions
Set a specific goal
One of the reasons goals are forgotten about is because they are too vague. Katherine L. Milkman, an associate professor of operations information and decisions at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, says making a concrete goal is more important. For example, if losing weight is one of your objectives, specify how much weight you want to lose in how many months. This way, you know how much effort is needed from you to tick it off your list.
Learn from the past.
To become better this year, you need to learn from your past. Harvard health, says “any time you fail to make a change, consider it a step toward your goal, ” because it gives you a chance to reflect and learn new ways forward without giving up.
Breakdown big goals into small goals
Setting that audacious goal is good, and breaking it into digestible pieces gives you more focus and makes the process more enjoyable. Charles Duhigg, author of “The Power of Habit”, says “focus on [those] small wins so you can make gradual progress,”.
Choose a relevant goal
Choose a goal that is true to you and not one that is based on society. Psychiatrist Dr Michael Bennet says you will only see change if “you build up a process where you’re thinking harder about what’s good for you, you’re changing the structure of your life, [and] you’re bringing people into your life who will reinforce that resolution”.
Share the process
Having a support structure to help get through the rollercoaster of this process will keep you accountable and motivate you to continue. Research has shown that having a supportive group of friends and family is vital for mental health.