It’s that time of the year again: the
post-Christmas lull week that kind of feels like sitting idly through the
credits of a TV show while we wait for the next program to start (for those of
us who still cling to pre-Netflix habits).
The time when we celebrate (or dread) another
uptick in our calendar or, more symbolically, a “fresh start” in our lives.
Indeed, many of us choose to ring in the new year with a New Year’s resolution;
a pledge to better ourselves in some way.
A pledge that, in fact, only
about 8% of us will actually keep. Ouch.
So why is it that we just can’t seem to
accomplish our goals for the new year?
Most
Resolutions Fail
There’s been much said about the lack of New Year’s discipline that 92% of us seem to have. And yet, perhaps the problem lies not with us but with the goals themselves. Let’s look at the top three New Year’s resolutions from the research linked above and see why only a mere fraction of us are able to achieve them.
There’s been much said about the lack of New Year’s discipline that 92% of us seem to have. And yet, perhaps the problem lies not with us but with the goals themselves. Let’s look at the top three New Year’s resolutions from the research linked above and see why only a mere fraction of us are able to achieve them.
1. Lose
weight/get in shape
Sure, a lot of us dream of having rock-hard abs or granite-like glutes, but this is one of those resolutions that many people make and break year after year.
Sure, a lot of us dream of having rock-hard abs or granite-like glutes, but this is one of those resolutions that many people make and break year after year.
2. Get organized
We all hate clutter and not being able to find that mascara brush we just had two seconds ago, so why is that most of us can’t seem to get organized once and for all?
We all hate clutter and not being able to find that mascara brush we just had two seconds ago, so why is that most of us can’t seem to get organized once and for all?
3. Save more money
Personal finance is consistently one of the most popular topics in the news and on social media, but even with this wealth of information (pun fully intended) available to us, we are still struggling with our pocketbooks year after year.
Personal finance is consistently one of the most popular topics in the news and on social media, but even with this wealth of information (pun fully intended) available to us, we are still struggling with our pocketbooks year after year.
Why Some Resolutions Fail
There are a few problems that the easily failed New Year’s resolutions have in common.
There are a few problems that the easily failed New Year’s resolutions have in common.
-
Vague- How much weight or money
is “enough”? How do we measure organization?
-
Demanding- These resolutions
actually require lifetime commitment.
It only takes one day to become disorganized again, or a week’s shopping
splurge to ruin a budget. Then come the inevitable feelings of failure.
-
Negative- These New Year’s
resolutions require that you don’t do
something. Don’t eat that cronut, don’t drop your laundry on the couch, don’t buy those boots you really want.
Who needs more negativity in their life?
Resolutions
You Can Actually Keep
Don’t despair, there are still plenty of New Year’s resolutions that avoid these pitfalls. Here are five that are simple yet open-ended, and won’t leave you feeling like a complete screw-up come February.
Don’t despair, there are still plenty of New Year’s resolutions that avoid these pitfalls. Here are five that are simple yet open-ended, and won’t leave you feeling like a complete screw-up come February.
1.
Practice a new skill
Notice how we didn’t say “master a new skill”. Truly mastering a new skill can take around 10,000 hours of practice (or not).
However, even starting to practice a new skill or hobby can be a great confidence-booster. Learning to play a musical instrument or speak a new language are always popular choices. But what about something more creative, like learning some self-defense techniques or how to do your own manicures?
Notice how we didn’t say “master a new skill”. Truly mastering a new skill can take around 10,000 hours of practice (or not).
However, even starting to practice a new skill or hobby can be a great confidence-booster. Learning to play a musical instrument or speak a new language are always popular choices. But what about something more creative, like learning some self-defense techniques or how to do your own manicures?
As a bonus, enrolling in a class for the
skill you want to learn is a great way to meet new people.
2. Sleep
better
Hopefully, you’re getting to sleep at least once per day ;)
Hopefully, you’re getting to sleep at least once per day ;)
And if you’re doing something every day, you
might as well get good at it. Not only is quality sleep essential for your
health, it will make everything you do go much more smoothly.
To get the best sleep, you should practice
stress management and limit caffeine consumption during the evening (meaning,
yes, ditch the pre-bed venti iced mocha).
Also, if you are a late-night
computer/phone addict, make sure you are doing something to control your
display’s brightness or color temperature. Bright, cold LCD’s can wreak havoc
on our circadian rhythm, so use something like the awesome (and free!) f.lux so that you aren’t, as they put it,
“looking at the sun” right before bed.
If you feel like air dryness/breathing is
an issue, you can always try an aromatherapy
diffuser to help relax and ease the process of falling to sleep.
3.
Go somewhere new
We humans are all creatures of habit. But too often that can lead to us going to the same restaurants, the same stores, and the same getaways time and time again. While there’s nothing wrong with this type of consistency per se, sometimes a new destination is just what we need to reinvigorate our sense of discovery and adventure.
We humans are all creatures of habit. But too often that can lead to us going to the same restaurants, the same stores, and the same getaways time and time again. While there’s nothing wrong with this type of consistency per se, sometimes a new destination is just what we need to reinvigorate our sense of discovery and adventure.
With the myriad of resources such as Google
Maps, Yelp, and our social media circles at our disposal, none of us should
lack for new ideas when it comes to travel, dining, and shopping destinations. So
go ahead and search for a new spot to check out!
You can make a conscious decision to go
somewhere new and unfamiliar next year. Even if you only try it once, you’ve
still kept your New Year’s resolution!
Tip: If you are going to travel, travel in
style ;)
4. Change
up your environment
Many of our habits are, in part, products of our environment. Instead of trying to force a new habit or break a bad one, we can sometimes achieve the results we want simply by changing the conditions that lead to that habit in the first place.
Many of our habits are, in part, products of our environment. Instead of trying to force a new habit or break a bad one, we can sometimes achieve the results we want simply by changing the conditions that lead to that habit in the first place.
Example: Maybe you’re a woman trying to master
your first pull-up, but still have trouble finding the time to hit the gym.
Hang a pull up bar at home in a doorway you frequently cross. If the bar is
there, you’re going to use it!
Just do what you can every time you cross
that threshold (even if you’re only heading to the fridge to grab a pint of Häagen-Dazs).
Don’t force yourself to do a set number of exercises per day and don’t stress
about it. Before long, this simple environmental change could have you doing
pull-ups like GI Jane.
Haircut optional
As another example, if you do want to get organized as above, try starting
with your environment. It’s a heck of a lot easier to organize your things when
your environment is conducive to it. There are all sorts of organizers
available for your car
or dresser,
and we have our own makeup
organizer.
5. Be
kinder to yourself
Embracing a new year shouldn’t be about stressing yourself out or beating yourself up. All of the previous resolutions we suggested are positive additions to your life, not high-pressure goals that set you up to fail.
Embracing a new year shouldn’t be about stressing yourself out or beating yourself up. All of the previous resolutions we suggested are positive additions to your life, not high-pressure goals that set you up to fail.
In general, all of us could do better by
being just a little kinder to ourselves. Remember Stuart Smalley, the Al
Franken character from SNL? He was good enough, smart
enough, and, doggone it, people liked him.
No, you don’t have to praise yourself in
the mirror every morning and night (re-watch the famous line here). However,
forgiving yourself for your mistakes and perceived shortcomings can go a long way
towards making you happier on a daily basis.
But, in case you do want to get a clearer
look at that lovely mug of yours, we can recommend the perfect
mirror for the job ;)
Love
yourself!
One
Last Thing…
As a final tip, keep in mind that some studies have shown that we are less likely to achieve our goals when we tell everyone about them, so if you insist on making a New Year’s resolution like “lose weight”, you may want to save the social media and water cooler announcements until you’ve at least made some progress.
As a final tip, keep in mind that some studies have shown that we are less likely to achieve our goals when we tell everyone about them, so if you insist on making a New Year’s resolution like “lose weight”, you may want to save the social media and water cooler announcements until you’ve at least made some progress.
Another good thing about our
recommendations is that they are so simple to do, you can blab about them all
you want and still achieve them!
MelodySusie would like to wish you all a great
year and a better you in 2017!
Happy New Year, gals!
