With the new year’s arrival, most of us at least think about making resolutions. But keeping them? That’s another matter entirely! Internet statistics say 80 percent of resolution-makers have ditched them by February. By this new year’s end, only 8 percent will have kept their resolutions – and that number comes from self-reporting!
Google data that iQuanti disseminated shows these top seven resolutions:
- Get healthy.
- Get organized.
- Spend less and save more.
- Live life to the fullest.
- Learn new hobbies.
- Read more.
Most of us see the first three listed as good for us, but a real drag to achieve. The last four should and can be fun. Still, it takes commitment and, well… we’re busy.
A few days ago, Frances Bridges posted an article on Forbes on-line magazine entitled “Five Ways to Make Smarter New Year’s Resolutions:”
- Be specific.
- Break a big goal into smaller increments.
- Set deadlines.
- It’s OK to set big goals, if you forgive yourself for not achieving them in a year.
- Celebrate success.
If you’re frustrated with your inability or unwillingness to make and keep new year’s resolutions, to quit bad habits and/or to make good habits (As I am, by the way.), how about this instead? … Resolve to do things you like to do… but focus on reasonable ones. I don’t mean that you should think, “Hey, I like ice cream sandwiches, so I’ll have three at one sitting.” No, instead I mean resolutions like getting reacquainted with an old friend this winter, then another each in spring, summer, and fall.
You get my point… you really do make a change in your life and for the better, but it’s not something you dread and, done incrementally, it’s not overwhelming. … Then – and here’s the sneaky part – resolve that for every positive payoff you make, you then improve something a little tougher to achieve… like exercising for 20 minutes once per week, then twice and even three times.
It’s a punishment/reward cycle that turns Pavlov’s dog on his ear, yelping! And, since for most of us, nothing else has worked, why not give it a try?