Why Do More Than 90% of People Not Achieve New Year’s Resolutions?
It is the New Year and this can be a very exciting time to some and for others it can be a time of extreme pressure. Historically, the new year has been celebrated as a time to let go of the past and create a new beginning. I love this idea of being intentional with creating new beginnings, as well as celebrating the past.
The thing that I find ironic, interesting, and a natural saboteur, is that we build this up and put so much importance on this one day or week of the year. We make this the most important time to focus on creating new habits, of setting new goals, making change…and we choose to do this the day after the biggest party night of the year? One week after the biggest financially draining day/season of the year? Coming right off the heels of dealing with all of the emotions that come up over the holidays? Or the pressure of whether we hit our goals for the previous year? Talk about setting ourselves up for failure!
It is no wonder that studies show that more than 90% of people will not achieve their New Year’s Resolutions, with more than 20% falling out in the first week and another +40% quitting by the end of January.
Don’t get me wrong: I am a huge fan of setting goals, of being intentional and reaching for our dreams. I just think that we need to give ourselves some grace through this process. Why January 1? Life does not have to be a sprint, it is a journey, and it is in the journey that we can find joy.
Every day is a new beginning and we can begin right where we are, when we are ready. There are some key, critical components to making change in our lives successfully and giving ourselves permission to enjoy the journey as we work towards goals. This may take a few moments to prepare and get our minds in the right place so that we set ourselves up for success, rather than failure in the first week or month.
The most common reason people do not achieve change:
- Lack of belief that they are capable of it
- The goal is not theirs, it is for someone else
- Lack of setting clear goals and not preparing properly for success
So whatever day you choose to create change in your life, whether it was on January 1st, today, next week, or next month, I encourage and invite you to give yourself some grace…take the time to set yourself up for success. Even if you have already started, you may want to step back and ensure you have a formula that will work. Remember, slow and steady is more sustainable and ultimately wins.
Unlock Your Key to Success in the New Year
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