by Raeciel DeCastro
The holidays are in full swing; with the New Year just around the corner it’s time to start thinking about your New Year’s Resolution. Did you tell yourself you were going to lose weight, eat right, stop smoking and manage your finances better in 2015? Now with 2016 fast approaching are you realizing those resolutions you set for yourself never made it through the year? Don’t fret; it happens to the most of us! According to a poll by the University of Scranton, 71% follow through with their resolutions for the first two weeks, less than 50% (46% to be exact) make it past six months, but only 8% actually succeed at achieving their resolutions! Be a part of that 8% and uphold those resolutions with these tips!
Break it up
Don’t set yourself up for failure by setting a massive goal. Break larger goals up by setting small easy and achievable ones. Setting smaller goals are more satisfying when accomplished, making it more desirable to continue to check your goals off the list. For example, you want to read 20 books in a year, break it down to reading 2 books a month.
Old habits die hard New habits don’t stop old habits from reoccurring. The desire to overcome the old habit has to be stronger to influence the behavior in order to keep the new habit from dissolving. According to a study in 2009 by researchers at the University College London, it takes about 66 days to form a habit. Just like the saying “Patience is a Virtue”. Patience is the key when achieving your New Year’s Resolution.
Place your bets! According to study in 2012 by Nola Ries, people who agreed to pay cash if their weight loss goals weren’t met lost 14 more pounds than those who did not have a financial incentive. This idea can be used in any resolution. Give it a shot at http://www.stickk.com/ or if weight-loss and getting in shape is your goal try out the Pact app. http://www.pactapp.com/
Let it be known
Social media is huge this day in age and we are living in the Facebook era. Making yourself accountable to your friends and family is one of the best ways to reach your goals. According to Norcross author of Changeology: 5 steps to Realizing your Goals and Resolutions “Going public increases accountability and allows for more support”. So get out there and let your goals be known!
Resources:
University of Scranton. Journal of Clinical Psychology. (2015, January 26). Retrieved from
http://www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/
How Long Does it Take to form a habit. (2009, August 4). Retrieved from
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0908/09080401
Norcross, J.C. (2012). Changeology: 5 Steps to Realizing Your Goals and Resolutions. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.
Ries N.M. (2012). Financial incentives for weight loss and healthy behaviours.
Healthc Policy. 7(3): 23–28.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3298019/
About the Author:
Raised in the South Bay, Raeciel DeCastro earned her B.S. in Kinesiology from San Jose State University. As a program manager she enjoys helping others achieve their health and wellness goals. She is an avid volleyball player and participates in local adult leagues and tournaments from Sacramento to Las Vegas. Outside of her hobbies she enjoys spending time with friends and her furry friend Zara.
