It’s that time of year again, when resolutions are made to work off your Adipose (for non-Whovians, just read “fat”), to track and bag Prince Charming, to organize your tornado-destruction-zone office space, and to be able to reenact this scene of Scrooge McDuck.
But to tell you the truth, I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions. Let me tell you why…
This post originally appeared on Anna’s 1st blog, Annamotion.
Sad Statistics
Statistic Brain Research Institute shares these statistics for people keeping to the resolutions they make for the New Year:
- 75% make it 1 WEEK! (25% couldn’t make it even 7 days? Really??)
- 71% make it past 2 weeks
- 64% make it 1 month
- 46% make it 6 months
- 8% are successful in achieving their resolution. (EIGHT-measly-percent!)
[ctt template=”2″ link=”nCJB9″ via=”no” ]25% of resolution makers won’t even make it 7 days![/ctt]
This is SAD, guys. Really sad.
[ctt template=”2″ link=”ad2lp” via=”no” ]Will you be in the 8% of people who successfully keep to their resolutions?[/ctt]
New Year Magic
Another interesting statistic from that same post says that “people who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions.”
I don’t think this is because there’s something magical about the new year (I mean, c’mon! Look at those embarrassing statistics!)
I think it has to do with 2 things:
- Proclaiming a goal. Making a decision and publicly declaring it. Saying something in front of others will make you more likely to do it. You want to be a person of your word and you now have people who will ask you about it later (accountability!).
- Attaching a due date. Setting a deadline. 1 year is a good goal end date; however, I’d take that further and say there should be bench marks, smaller goals, along the way to make it more bite sized and seem more doable.
But did you notice something? These are 2 concepts that don’t have to be applied only to the beginning of a new year. You can do them any day, any time!
From what I’ve seen, people actually seem to be way more likely to keep their goals when they choose it on their own, aside from a feeling of obligation to make a “New Year’s resolution.”
That’s why you see all these people who are physically fit, incredibly skilled at something, achieving their dreams. I bet most of those people didn’t start because of a New Year’s resolution; they started on a random day–the day they CHOSE to stop making excuses and giving up, but set their minds to do it and DID IT!
I’m not saying “don’t make New Year’s resolutions,” buuut…
Don’t ONLY set goals on New Year’s.
Or you’re going to miss out! So many opportunities…so many goals…so many dreams…so little time. Be a person who constantly challenges yourself to be a better person. Set goals constantly throughout your year. Achieve one goal? GREAT! Now set a new one.
[ctt template=”2″ link=”us2D7″ via=”no” ]Don’t ONLY set goals on New Year’s.[/ctt]
Get out of the “New Year” mindset.
When a resolution is failed, many people think “oh, I’ll just wait until next year to start again.” STOP THAT THINKING! Don’t give up if you mess up. Don’t wait around for a new year. It’s already a New Day! A New Hour! Happy New Second! Now start again.
[ctt template=”2″ link=”8HSfW” via=”no” ]Happy New Second! Pick yourself up and work toward your goals again.[/ctt]
My friend, there is no better time than the present. And since it’s presently a new year, then go for it NOW! Regardless of what day it is.