by Wesley Erk
As we approach the New Year, the thought of resolutions goes through everyone’s mind: the person we wish we were and the things we will do to become them. However, even though it seems like a huge commitment in the moment, only nine percent of Americans continue with their resolution for 365 days.
Why We Fail
The fatal flaw of the majority of people regarding resolutions is setting them based on tradition. You did it the last three years, so you might as well set a new goal this year, right? Well, this tradition of setting goals and falling short becomes a habit. Eventually, you know in the back of your mind that you will quit by February, but you keep setting them anyway.
The second most common mistake is setting goals too high or too low. A challenging goal is healthy, but a goal set too high can seem out of reach and encourage you to give up. On the other hand, while low goals are easier to maintain for the year, they do not cause as much growth or improvement and it may seem easier to slack off.
The Right Way to Set Goals
Number one: Although it may not align with New Year’s, a great factor that plays into a goal’s success is if the goal was set in a time when you needed it. For example, someone who has an average screen time of nine hours per day should consider setting the goal of going on their phone less, but someone who has under two hours should focus on something else.
Number two: Visualize yourself once the goal has been achieved. Are you happier, or was it just to say you did it?
Number three: Don’t set an unreasonable goal. You don’t have to achieve it by the end of the year of even by the next two years, just try something that is motivating to work towards and not out of reach.
How to Achieve Your Goals the Right Way
Setting the goal is easy. At this step, you have accomplished what roughly 40 percent of Americans do every year. However, only about nine percent of Americans can follow through. To succeed, you must be accountable for your failure and set a reasonable punishment if you fail. According to Richard Batts from Ohio State University, people without a punishment are twice as likely to fail. Don’t blame it on something; instead, realize that if you really cared about your goal and wanted to change, you wouldn’t have failed.
Another way to succeed is having a social circle or at least a partner in your challenge. According to a study conducted by J.C. Norcross in the National Library of Medicine, a social circle failed to predict success in the first six months of the year but did so thereafter. This means that if you are truly in it for the long run, you should plan to go into this year with a friend. This study also highlighted that over the two-year period that they analyzed subjects, the average number of slip-ups they had was fourteen. However, after getting back on track, this did not stop them from keeping their word in the long run. Don’t let your slip-ups make you quit. Use the failure as motivation and keep going.
In addition to pushing through when it gets difficult, you also have to go into the challenge with the ambition to actually succeed, not just to give it a shot. When you know that you are going to fail eventually, it gets a lot more tempting to give up right away.
These tips can make it possible for anyone to change for the better in 2026, all you have to do is commit to the change. So, with this advice in mind, think a little harder on New Year’s Eve this year, because whatever you think about is likely to come true.
Sources:
https://fisher.osu.edu/blogs/leadreadtoday/why-most-new-years-resolutions-fail
Leave a Reply