Why It’s So Hard to Stick to Your New Year’s Resolution
For a change, don’t add new things in your life as a new year’s resolution. Instead, do more of what’s already working for you and stop doing things that are time-waste.
This is the time of year when we all start to think about how we can change our lives for the better. We set resolutions, and then put a ton of pressure on ourselves to stick with them. The problem is: it’s really hard! But I’m here to help you find some ways that might work for you this year.
As we approach the new year, many individuals will begin making New Year’s resolutions. They may promise to exercise more, eat healthier, save money, or spend less time on their phones.
I’ve discovered that people generally fall into one of two categories when it comes to making resolutions/goals for themselves: those who succeed and those who don’t.
While there is nothing inherently wrong with these goals, I have decided not to set any resolutions for myself this year.
There are a few reasons why I’ve chosen to make this change.
First, I have found that I rarely stick to my resolutions. This is likely because I tend to set overly ambitious goals, which can be frustrating and demoralizing when I inevitably fail to meet them.
Second, it is essential to focus on living in the present rather than constantly worrying about what lies ahead. By setting resolutions, we often put unnecessary pressure on ourselves to achieve specific outcomes, preventing us from enjoying the moment.
You’re standing on a ball that’s in constant motion. It’s easy to get lost in the day-to-day tasks and forget what your goals are. You may feel like you don’t have time to focus on anything else, but it’s important to set aside time each week to reflect on your progress and plan for the future.
Here are four reasons why it’s so hard to stick to your new year’s resolution
#1 – You have too many goals.
If you’re anything like me, you probably have a lot of goals. I mean A LOT of goals! When you set resolutions, you are essentially narrowing down your list of goals to just one or two for the year. But unfortunately, that also means that I can’t focus on all of them at the same time and I tend to lose motivation really quickly because they seem so unachievable.
#2 – You get discouraged very easily.
It’s effortless to get discouraged when working towards a goal, and you don’t see any progress. This is especially true if your plan takes a lot of time or effort (like losing weight, saving money, etc.). When you set resolutions, it’s effortless to become frustrated and give up because you feel like you’re not making any progress.
#3 – You are too opinionated about your resolutions.
If you think about it, all people ever do is talk about their New Year’s Resolutions and never actually follow through with them. This usually happens because we put specific ideas in our head (like “I’m going to lose 10 pounds”), making us feel obligated to achieve them, even though our hearts aren’t entirely into it. As soon as something comes up that doesn’t align ourselves with these ideas (like “It’s okay to eat this one unhealthy meal”), we give up because it’s just too difficult to stick to our resolutions.
#4 – You are always full of excuses.
It’s almost as if we’re all waiting for a particular day (like January 1st) to make changes to our lives. The truth is that there isn’t such a wrong time or month to make changes in your life. There will always be reasons you “can’t” do something, but those are usually self-imposed limits that can quickly become excuses. Setting resolutions makes it too easy for us to use these excuses and avoid doing anything that goes against it (even if we don’t realize we’re doing it).
If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few tips on re-prioritizing:
The word balance may seem straightforward, but it doesn’t have the same meaning for everyone. What’s important to you during a certain time in your life or career? Do you value work more than personal goals at the moment? Are you juggling family and work responsibilities?
Read : How to Make (and Keep) a New Year’s Resolution
Thinking about what balance means to you can help you focus on the areas that need the most attention. Once you know what’s important, you can start creating a plan to achieve it.
Creating a list of goals is a great way to organize your thoughts and track your progress. It’s helpful to set goals in multiple areas of your life, like health and personal, family, friends or work. You can also make a list of short-term and long-term goals. Write down both big picture goals (such as buying a house) and smaller steps (start saving for a down payment). This will help you see the bigger picture and keep you motivated when you’re making decisions along the way. When creating your list, don’t forget to include both work-related goals (such as launching a new product) and personal goals (like traveling more often). This will help create balance in your life. Write down what’s important to you—both right now and in the future It’s helpful to think about what’s important to you at different points in your life. What were your goals when you were in college? Are they the same as your goals now? It’s important to be flexible and change your goals as needed, but it can also be helpful to have a solid foundation to work from. Writing down what’s important to you can help you stay focused and motivated when things get tough.
Read: The Top 3 Reasons New Year’s Resolutions Fail And How Yours Can Succeed
Set measurable goals- One way to make sure your goals are achievable is to set measurable goals. This means you have a specific plan for how you’re going to achieve your goal. For example, if you’re trying to save money, your goal might be to spend less on going out to eat by bringing a packed lunch to work. You can also use measurable goals when building a new habit. If you want to start exercising three times a week, make a daily checklist to help track your progress and gradually build up to your goal.
Take action- Once you’ve created a plan and set some goals, it’s time to take action. This doesn’t mean you have to do everything at once—start small and gradually work your way up. If you’re struggling to stay organized, start by creating a daily or weekly schedule to help you stay on track. You can also prioritize your tasks by asking yourself the following questions:
Read :WHY NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FAIL
What’s most important? What needs to be done today, tomorrow or next week? How much time do I have for this task? Will it take more than 15 minutes? Can someone else do this task instead of me? If so, who will that be? How will I feel if this task isn’t done?
If you’re spending too much time at work, try turning off notifications on your phone. If email is the problem, schedule specific times during the day or week to check it. You can also train yourself to focus more on certain types of tasks by blocking distracting websites or using software to keep you off of social media.
You may also want to think about changing your routine. Trying something new can help you stay motivated and see positive results, even if it’s just for a short time. Take up a new hobby, learn an instrument or find new ways to unwind after work each day—it all helps create balance in your life.
Creating balance in your life can be tough, but it’s worth it in the end. By staying focused and setting measurable goals, you can make progress towards a more balanced lifestyle.
Now that you know how to create balance in your life, it’s time to get started! Don’t forget to set both short-term and long-term goals, and make sure they’re measurable. This will help you stay on track and achieve your desired outcome.
Don’t be afraid to try something new—it can help you stay motivated and see positive results, even if it’s just for a short time. Creating balance in your life isn’t always easy, but it’s worth the effort.
Every year, we make resolutions to improve our lives and start fresh. But as the old saying goes, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Why is it that no matter how hard you try or how many reminders you put up on your calendar, sometimes those good intentions just don’t work out? The answer may be in a part of the brain called the basal ganglia. This area has a lot to do with motivation and habits – which are notoriously difficult to change! Luckily there’s hope for making this new year one where all your dreams come true.