The tradition, believed by some to be the brainchild of Julius Caesar, offers us the opportunity to take advantage of that "fresh start" feeling that comes along with the new year to put into writing something we want to improve. A resolution is more than just a goal; it's a promise to yourself. And, according to research at StatisticBrain.com, "People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions."
Now THAT is an interesting statistic to consider...I rather like those odds! In my mind, resolutions signify hope: hope that I will improve, hope that I can make a difference, hope that I can keep the promises I make to myself. If you are inspired to be one of the 45% who make New Year’s resolutions, I applaud your belief that things can improve and that you can be the one who makes it happen. Best wishes in the New Year!
Ready to take the plunge? Here are a few tips:
- Focus on what you can add to your life. We have a tendency to fight against feeling deprived.
- Understand the why behind your resolution. As the philosopher Nietzsche said, “He who has a strong enough why can bear almost any how.”
- Create several small resolutions rather than one big one. Perhaps one you want to improve for yourself (eat three more servings of vegetables a week or have one TV-free night a week), one you want to do for someone you love (call your best friend once a week or send your grandma a card once a month), and one you want to do for the outside world (volunteer monthly at the local food bank or sign up and train for an upcoming walk for charity).
- Follow the SMART plan. We are much more likely to achieve goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-specific.
- Reward yourself for the small successes along the way. When we reward ourselves for the small steps, we are more encouraged to keep going.
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