According
But Wiseman’s team doesn’t stop there and asks the all-important question, “Why?” Why are so many people unable to keep their resolutions?
For the 78% of people that didn’t stick to their resolutions, the study found common themes. These individuals:
- Focused on the downside of not achieving their goals,
- Suppressed cravings,
- Adopted a role model,
- Or relied on willpower alone.
The individuals that stuck to their resolutions, on the other hand, tended to:
- Break their large goals into small steps and create small changes that, over time, added up,
- Celebrate their milestones,
- Share their goals with friends (for additional accountability),
- Focus on the benefits of success (i.e., how their resolution would improve the quality of their life),
- Keep a diary of their progress.
Following the above strategies increases the probability of success to a whopping 50% – and it speaks to the necessity of creating a do-able, realistic plan and the importance of internal motivation, rewards and external accountability.
Of course, if you don’t stick to your resolution, I wouldn’t view it as failure. Doing so, as Wiseman notes, “is often psychologically harmful because it can rob people of a sense of self control.” Instead, it’s wiser to view our missteps are learning experiences. If you try to build muscle, for example, and don’t – well, then you know you need to use a different approach. After all, failure isn’t falling down – it’s staying down.
Here’s to a happy and healthy 2012!
Davey you always have really good pictures at the start of your blogs..haha I love them 🙂
Ditto!!!!!!!!!!
I’ll take both, thank you!
My New Year’s resolution? To be in a tub with two sexy men O.o It looks like SO much fun!
i love the picture of you at the top of the blog Mr Serious XD
Cool tips. I have been thinking of my new years resolution, and the 30 it’s I want to loose was a daunting task, but breaking it up into smaller goals should do the trick…. Thanx
伟人经常犯错误,经常要摔倒,但虫子不会。因为。它们做的事情就是挖洞和爬行。