How Are You Doing With Those Resolutions?

"Not so great" would be a typical response from most people.  In fact, the percentage of New Year's resolutions that actually "stick" is dismally low.  Why do we have such a hard time keep those promises we make to ourselves every January?  There are a number of reasons why we tend to fall back into our old habits within a few weeks.  There are also some ways of approaching the tradition of resolving to make a change that can give you a much better chance of turning your resolution into a habit that is hard to break.

First, let's examine 3 ways in which we might set ourselves up for failure:

• Making The Result The Goal

When we focus on our desired outcome, i.e., to lose 20 pounds, quit smoking, eat healthier, etc., we expect to see results very soon.  This is because from a young age we are taught to see goals as achievable within a certain timeframe and that change needs to be something we can actually measure.

• Taking On A Monumental Change

While those type of changes are often part of the New Year's resolutions we make, the sheer will power necessary to make big changes is not something that comes naturally to people.  We operate best on instinct.

• Not Changing The Outside

When we try to break bad habits our focus is on changing our thinking or depriving ourselves of a ritual we practice.  This is when we tell ourselves that we have to have strong willpower.  Unfortunately, for most people, will power is not known for being very strong.  Relying on will power to facilitate change is setting yourself up for failure.

These are 3 reasons why less than 10% of us keep those promises we make to ourselves as we begin the new year.  If we would focus on changing behavior rather than seeing results right away, we would be much more likely to turn those promises into habits that are driven by our instincts.  If we would just break down the goal to the smallest detail, like not smoking in the car or with the morning coffee, it becomes easier to achieve and resist cheating.  Allowing ourselves as much time as we need also means we take baby steps until the ultimate goal is reached.  Finally, if we don't change our environment to support our resolution, failure is almost guaranteed.  It is very difficult to resolve to eat healthier if the pantry and refrigerator are stocked with junk food.  Our environment is responsible for much of our instinctual behavior so changing it along with your internal resolve, is vital. 

Resolutions are best kept when they become part of your natural motivation so make sure you can really achieve the behavior changes you seek.  The best way to make big changes is one little bite at a time.

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” 

― Oprah Winfrey

If your resolutions include playing more…Grandrabbit's is a great place to start!

(This blog was originally published on 1.21.15)