Author: Adam Berry
The studies are clear. 80% of people can’t stick to their New Year’s Resolutions and it’s perplexing because it’s something society keeps going back to year after year…and we keep getting the same results
What was it Einstein said? “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
A study by Bupa and ComRes in the UK asked 2,014 adults about their New Year’s Resolutions in November 2015. Topics relating to improving health accounted for the top three resolutions. And of that group of people, 66% said it lasted one month or less. 12% of people said they managed to keep a resolution. So, how do you get different results when it comes to your New Year’s Resolutions?
1. THE TWO MINUTE RULE
Resolutions tend to focus on the long-term result. Not the process and building your process is more important. In reality, the action doesn’t succeed or fail when you are doing it. It succeeds or fails just before. Therefore, you need to lower your point of entry in order to achieve success. If you go to the gym, did two minutes and realized it wasn’t your day…then you can leave.
The act of getting there, being there and experiencing it will strengthen your ability to do it again. And doing it, again and again, will make it stick and grow. Eventually, if you give yourself enough opportunity to grow you will succeed.
2. FOCUS ON THE PROCESS
New Year’s Resolutions traditionally focus on the end result:
Lose 10 pounds
Eat clean
Travel more
Get healthy
This list is all results focussed. How are you going to achieve these things? How do you lose 10 pounds? Start with one pound and repeat that process over and over. To eat clean, start by adding more vegetables to your dinner each day. To travel; put some money aside and plan your vacations from work for the year. Get healthy becomes… go for more walks and build the habits of a healthy person.
Once you get yourself working on the process the result will take care of itself, and you will find building up slowly far more sustainable.
3. REALIZE IT’S A NEW YEAR RESOLUTION
Why the rush? Why the need to implement your resolution on January 1st? And hit that goal by February 1st? A year is 12 months. You have that long to achieve your New Year’s Resolution. Pick one and master it. Then move onto the next one. And then the next one come September or October. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. If by the end of year, you have only mastered two of your resolutions…that’s a lot better than failing by February 1st on all five.
A New Year, New Start. How to make a difference.
