Why Resolutions failed in the past?
2015 is rapidly approaching and approximately 50% of the American population will make their resolution come New Years Eve. Among the top resolutions are weight loss, exercise, stopping smoking, better money management and debt reduction. Many resolutions start out strong and go along great for the first few couple of day's or even weeks. Then like a thief in the night our resolution disappears from our sight, as a matter of fact according to research 88% of those resolutions die in the first few day's and weeks. That means 156 million failed resolutions and disappointed minds each and every year.
Now let me just say this there's a huge list of why resolutions fail each year and I'm sure that many of you already know why yours have failed before. I've been in your same shoes before. I personally found that going over and over past failures produced more and more failures. This is when I decided to try something different. I decided to focus on a smaller list of what does work, not only did this keep me focused but it was a simpler plan that broke the failure cycle. You see the past habits killed it every time, What I found was forming simple new habits in the mind first made the resolution stick. So lets talk about those tips that worked?
Tips and Habits
1. Focus on One resolution at a time. Now isn't the time for multi tasking. When starting a new project you need to give it your complete focus. To many resolutions at once can overwhelm you and make you quit before you start. Remember this is a new year, you have 365 days for change. Stop trying to make it all happen in a couple of days or weeks. Long term success is better than short term. Short term is where you are now & long term is where you want to be. It takes at least 21 days of consistency for your brain to start changing those bad habits & consistency to make them stick.
2. Set Realistic Goals. Don't self sabotage your goals. Stop making unrealistic goals. For example if you need to lose 100 lbs don't set a goal of I'll lose it in 3 months. A realistic goal would be 1-2 lbs a week, not only is this realistic but it's a healthy weight loss goal. Losing to much weight quickly can have serious health problems associated with it. Remember it didn't take you a few days or weeks to become overweight it took time and losing it is going to take time also. Be specific with your goals also. Saying I need to lose weight isn't being specific, but saying I need to lose 20 pounds in 90 days is.
3. Don't make your resolution a event. Think about it? When you attend a event it ends. Many resolutions end each year in failure and just in a few days or weeks. Your resolution isn't a event it's a lifestyle change. Unless you enjoy making the same resolutions every year and failing each time? (I'm guessing that's a NO!) Then make it a life long commitment, the longer the commitment the easier it gets. The mind sees it as a daily & yearly routine a new healthy habit. When that happens it becomes part of you, second nature and you do it without thinking about it. The key is daily all year long.
4. Small steps reap big rewards. Many people try doing it all at once and when they don't see instant results they quit. Take smaller reachable steps towards your goals. Not only will you see better results but longer lasting results in the process. Think about it like building a house. First you need to lay a foundation of concrete let it dry and then start building it from the bottom up one piece at a time. You wouldn't build your house on quick sand it would sink. For Example: If your wanting to lose weight instead of turning vegan and going into shock. Start putting smaller healthier food choices into your plan, as you start to feel & look better you will find it easier to make better a better food choices that will have a positive effect on your life everyday.
5. Find a accountability partner or group! Having a support system or group is a great way to keep each other motivated & accountable. Find someone you know who will keep you accountable with your goals and motivate you. If you had someone last year that you picked for this and they dropped out faster than you did? Then they are not the same people you want this year to be your cheering section. Success leaves clues, find someone who you can trust and know that will keep you on your toes. You may not from time to time like what they have to say but sometimes we have to have someone on the outside looking in to change the habits that caused us to fail before.
6. Celebrate the small successes. Many people wait till the goal is complete to celebrate the successes along the way.That doesn't make what your doing much fun & may make it even harder for you to continue. When your favorite sports team scores do you wait till the game is over to give praise or do you jump to your feet and shout "YES That's the way to score"? As you reach your smaller goals along the way give yourself permission to enjoy your success, just don't go overboard, and have fun. This will make reaching your goals more enjoyable and you'll want to keep going.
7. Live in the present not the past. You can't change what happened yesterday. You can make a change today, tomorrow and everyday after that. Each day focus on what can I do today that will help you reach your goal? Write it down and then do it now! Remember your changing old destructive habits for new successful habits. So do it now don't wait. Be mindful, become physically, emotionally and mentally aware of your inner emotions as each external event happens,moment by moment, rather than living in the past or future.
Above all else have fun, don't take yourself so seriously. If you slip up do yourself a favor and laugh at yourself and move forward. Your not starting a world war with yourself, you're making a positive change in your life. So laugh, have fun & be a better person for it.
Written by
Dennis Harlow
CHNP Harlow's Holistic Health
2. Set Realistic Goals. Don't self sabotage your goals. Stop making unrealistic goals. For example if you need to lose 100 lbs don't set a goal of I'll lose it in 3 months. A realistic goal would be 1-2 lbs a week, not only is this realistic but it's a healthy weight loss goal. Losing to much weight quickly can have serious health problems associated with it. Remember it didn't take you a few days or weeks to become overweight it took time and losing it is going to take time also. Be specific with your goals also. Saying I need to lose weight isn't being specific, but saying I need to lose 20 pounds in 90 days is.
3. Don't make your resolution a event. Think about it? When you attend a event it ends. Many resolutions end each year in failure and just in a few days or weeks. Your resolution isn't a event it's a lifestyle change. Unless you enjoy making the same resolutions every year and failing each time? (I'm guessing that's a NO!) Then make it a life long commitment, the longer the commitment the easier it gets. The mind sees it as a daily & yearly routine a new healthy habit. When that happens it becomes part of you, second nature and you do it without thinking about it. The key is daily all year long.
4. Small steps reap big rewards. Many people try doing it all at once and when they don't see instant results they quit. Take smaller reachable steps towards your goals. Not only will you see better results but longer lasting results in the process. Think about it like building a house. First you need to lay a foundation of concrete let it dry and then start building it from the bottom up one piece at a time. You wouldn't build your house on quick sand it would sink. For Example: If your wanting to lose weight instead of turning vegan and going into shock. Start putting smaller healthier food choices into your plan, as you start to feel & look better you will find it easier to make better a better food choices that will have a positive effect on your life everyday.
5. Find a accountability partner or group! Having a support system or group is a great way to keep each other motivated & accountable. Find someone you know who will keep you accountable with your goals and motivate you. If you had someone last year that you picked for this and they dropped out faster than you did? Then they are not the same people you want this year to be your cheering section. Success leaves clues, find someone who you can trust and know that will keep you on your toes. You may not from time to time like what they have to say but sometimes we have to have someone on the outside looking in to change the habits that caused us to fail before.
6. Celebrate the small successes. Many people wait till the goal is complete to celebrate the successes along the way.That doesn't make what your doing much fun & may make it even harder for you to continue. When your favorite sports team scores do you wait till the game is over to give praise or do you jump to your feet and shout "YES That's the way to score"? As you reach your smaller goals along the way give yourself permission to enjoy your success, just don't go overboard, and have fun. This will make reaching your goals more enjoyable and you'll want to keep going.
7. Live in the present not the past. You can't change what happened yesterday. You can make a change today, tomorrow and everyday after that. Each day focus on what can I do today that will help you reach your goal? Write it down and then do it now! Remember your changing old destructive habits for new successful habits. So do it now don't wait. Be mindful, become physically, emotionally and mentally aware of your inner emotions as each external event happens,moment by moment, rather than living in the past or future.
Above all else have fun, don't take yourself so seriously. If you slip up do yourself a favor and laugh at yourself and move forward. Your not starting a world war with yourself, you're making a positive change in your life. So laugh, have fun & be a better person for it.
Written by
Dennis Harlow
CHNP Harlow's Holistic Health
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