Why do people set New Year Resolutions? As they are entering the start of a new one, many people create New Year Resolutions to make positive changes. At the heart of it, setting New Year Resolutions is about goal-setting. Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines resolution as “the act or process of resolving” and “the act of determining.” These definitions implies it is an active process of determining something must be improved.
Generally, people create New Year Resolutions with the intention to begin doing something that will help them feel better about how they are living their lives. They set a goal to improve an area that is holding them back from being or feeling better. Some examples are the vast number of people who choose to sign up for a gym membership because they want to lose weight or those who cuts up all their credit cards to limit overspending.
Setting New Year Resolutions are created with good intentions, but it does not alway produce the desired outcome. Sadly, most resolutions are quickly abandoned within a few weeks into the year. According to Statistic Brain data, an average 41% of Americans create New Years Resolutions, with a reported success rate set at a little over 9%.
For most people there was a significant amount of time spent on creating the resolution, but not much placed on outlining the full details of what it will take once you are engaged in the process – both the internal and external. They may not account the smaller daily action steps that must support the overall bigger goal.
Quickly, most people become overwhelmed by the process within a few short weeks. Usually, all they took time to do was merely name the goal without much attention given to the ‘what’ or ‘how’ aspects of the process identifying specific action steps. Also, people may take on 3 or more major resolutions that increases their overwhelm and chance of abandoning it all.
The preparation process must be thorough to engage in an effective process of creating and executing New Year Resolutions. It must have a detailed plan that include all aspects of life – mentally, emotionally, and behavioral.
The Underlying Actions That Must Be Part Of The Preparation Process Of Setting A New Years Resolution:
- Mindset – Your thoughts; repeat thoughts that build you up versus break you down
- Attitude adjustment – How you view yourself and your progress; do not focus on ‘lack’
- Emotion management – How you manage emotions; celebrate the highs and lows
- Boundary setting – Being clear on what is acceptable or not; set limits on yourself and others
- Changes in routine – Create a consistent schedule or behavior; it will help create the habit
- Supports – Using relationships to have accountability partners and cheerleaders; it motivates you
Suggested Changes To How You Approach Setting Your New Year Resolutions
- Choose to go inward, and identify what you did well the prior year
- Set your goals from a perspective of expanding abilities you already have
- Acknowledge and celebrate what you are already doing
- Do not focus solely on creating a new habit or behavior that is completely foreign
- The initial execution does not need to be perfect
- Your missteps provide information to help you further improve your plan and success
- Have a detailed plan of how you will manage the internal and external experiences
- Monitor your mind, emotions, and behaviors
So, ask yourself:
What am I already doing that I like, and would like to do more?
How will I remain committed to me?
Consciously choose to Discover ~ Connect ~ Live
