How To Make New Year’s Resolutions You’ll Actually Achieve

It’s almost that time again. Time to toss out the tree and set out your New Year’s Resolutions. Those resolutions are great, but most of us give them up by mid-January.

Psychotherapist and counselor Kimberly Moffit says,”New Year’s resolutions only work in very few cases and typically with those who have a will of steel.Psychologically, when we’re faced with too many tasks it can be overwhelming. For example, you’re working out seven days in a row and then on the eighth day, you’re just so exhausted, so you stop and never go back.”

But those resolutions are a good thing. “Resolutions are important because they promote goal-setting, which is critical to getting things done,” said Michael Pantalon, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn.

So why do our resolutions fail?

1. We choose goals that are too big. Huge lifestyle changes take time; we tend to give up if we don’t see progress quickly.

2. We tell the wrong people who then pressure or chastise us too much instead of helping.

3. We focus on how to accomplish our resolution rather than why we want to accomplish it. The reason behind the resolution is a powerful motivator.

How do I stick with it?

1. Be very clear on how you will accomplish the resolution AND why you want to accomplish it. If you can’t come up with good reasons, it’s not a good resolution.

2. Get excited about it. You’ll be more likely to stick with it.

3. Don’t focus on what you’re giving up; focus on the things you CAN do.

What are your New Year’s Resolutions Rockheads? Let me know in the comments below!