Let me guess, we didn’t even make it through mid-January and you’ve already turned down your New Year’s resolutions. You may even think about giving up completely. Well you are not alone According to the University of Scranton, only 9.2% of people will successfully achieve their New Year goals, while 42.4% fail to keep their resolutions every year.
Before giving up or giving up on this bad habit, consider the following advice and tips.
Why did you fail
Some experts believe that people often fall short of their resolutions because they try to address big problems in their life with quick fixes that focus on short-term effects. If you want to break a bad habit, stop hesitating, become a better friend or spouse, or develop a better work ethic, you may need to address the root causes of these problems first. Just claiming that you won’t be lazy or late in the New Year doesn’t necessarily have to be acted out. Rather, one would have to judge how and why they started in the first place. Indeed, these habits could reflect deeply ingrained insecurities, fears, or fears that you never addressed. They may also have developed from a previous experience or learned behavior that you learned in your childhood.
Another reason resolutions are difficult to enforce is that they are often too ambitious and not well thought out. Either way, here are some things you can do this year to become a better you.
Do not put yourself down
Rather than getting beaten up for cheating on your diet or texting the ex you promised to get over it in 2017, get yourself into the practice of self-compassion. According to Kristin Neff, a professor of educational psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, self-friendliness is a powerful motivational factor that can help you get back on track after a weak moment. On the other hand, if you beat yourself up, you become discouraged and more likely to give up. Neff explains in The Conversation:
A growing body of research shows that self-compassion is associated with greater motivation. Self-compassion is associated with increased initiative – the desire to reach your full potential.
Self-compassionate people are also more likely to adopt “mastery goals” that focus on learning and mastering materials to increase competency, rather than “achievement goals” that are primarily aimed at making a positive impression on others.
While self-compassionate people have standards of performance that are as high as those who are harshly self-critical, they aren’t as upset if they don’t achieve their goals. As a result, self-compassionate people have less performance anxiety and are less likely to engage in self-destructive behaviors such as procrastination.
In addition to being less likely to fear failure, self-compassionate people will rise up and try again more often when they fail.
This shows that it gives you the emotional support you need to try again if you are kind to yourself after a mistake.
Be practical
The promise to get rid of $ 50,000 in student loan or credit card debt in six months may not be realistic. Instead, try breaking this solution down into a smaller goal, such as: B. Save $ 100 a week to pay off a $ 500 credit card at the end of the month.
If you are looking to become more financially stable in 2021, be sure to read one to three of these money-hungry books in the next three months.
If you’re looking to achieve financial freedom by the end of the year, start by saving 10% on your paycheck and making a commitment to take a class or read a book to learn about smart investments that can help you grow your savings account.
Get an Accountability Partner
If you are struggling to meet your New Year goals, seek advice from a friend, family member, or mentor who will hold you accountable. Let this person (s) know your goals and set up weekly check-in phone calls or meetings to report on your progress. Just knowing that you need to report your weekly report should motivate you to stay tuned.
Set simple and specific goals
Try to translate your resolutions into a list of achievable and simplified goals. For example, if you plan to lose 10 pounds or stop eating fast food by the summer, change that to a goal to be more productive and active on the weekends. Visit a gym, hire a fitness trainer, or plan with a responsibility partner to work out on a set day each week. You can also accelerate your goal of leading healthier lives by making a commitment to eat at least one piece of fruit and vegetable a day.
Keep trying
Even if the first few days of the New Year weren’t very successful, don’t let that stop you from doing your best for the rest of the month. Take it one day at a time and don’t give up. We all screw it up, but be nice to yourself and remember that a change in your lifestyle won’t happen overnight. It will take some time and you should expect to trip and trip along the way.
This article was originally published on January 7, 2017.
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