Try, try, try again…differently for effective New Year’s Resolutions
It is the halfway point in the month; how are you doing with your Dry January? That resolution you had to get to the gym every day? Is it going the way you had planned? If you’re like a majority of folks who make such statements and finding it tough going, let’s normalize this a bit. New Year’s Resolutions fade quickly for many reason. Changing our habits is tough. You can find my previous posts on the subject here, on just that very subject and here, specifically on Dry January.
This post won’t be those because you already know how unpleasant change is. Your New Year’s Resolutions for 2025 aren’t likely to be all that different from 2024. And yet, each year, we find ourselves either defending our decisions not to make a resolution or working to ensure you get further than the second Friday of the new year before you begin to say, “maybe this won’t be the year after all.”
Let’s look at some hard data to being with. According to a number of studies, about 6% of Americans who state they wish to make a major change, actually carry through. This quote puts it well, “Nearly one-third of goalsetters abandoned their aspirations in January. Another 63.5% of participants stopped pursuing their goals in February. Only 53 people reported sticking to their goals by June, according to the study findings.” (https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2025/01/02/how-many-people-keep-new-years-resolutions-when-is-quitters-day/77403352007/)
If you’re part of the 6% club, congratulations! Wicked impressive. Are you looking to be a part of that group? Let’s talk specifics to get you where you want to go so that this year’s New Year’s resolutions go from good to great.
Specifics to Get You Re-Started
Make sure your goal is hyper specific for effective New Year’s Resolutions.
It does not help us to say, “I want to save more money” or “I want to improve my health this year.” Instead try, “I will set up a $50 automatic deposit to my saving account each paycheck.” Or “I will add more fiber to my diet every day.”
Keep your goals realistic.
While it would be lovely to save a million dollars this year, unless you’ve won the lottery or you’ve got a paycheck north of that ‘saved’ million, the goal may be out of reach. Reality can be helpful sometimes.
Get yourself an accountability partner or system.
Automatic deposits help us because we don’t really ‘see’ the money and therefore aren’t tempted to spend what we don’t have in our checking accounts. Striving to eat an apple a day to add the fiber is a routine you can easily incorporate. Having a buddy to meet you for a walk or to swap healthy recipes with keeps both of you on track.
Give yourself a break for the bumps you experience.
Change is never linear. The people who say, “I told myself I wouldn’t smoke/drink/overspend/go back to fast food and then I never did again…” Aren’t telling you the whole story. For every time we try to make a change and don’t get very far, we bring ourselves closer to the time we put it all together and accomplish it. The minor set back doesn’t need to stop you from moving forward.
Clearly articulate your ‘why’ for what you’re doing.
When we have a clear motivation in our minds, the easier it is to weather the stress and triggers which have set us back to our old patterns in the past. “I want to save this money so that I can retire early” makes it less difficult to turn down the high ticket but totally unnecessary purchase. Yet another snowboard because I love the graphics or put that money in the FIRE fund? (FIRE stands for financially independent/retire early)
Keep up front in your mind that what you tell yourself matters.
Believe it or not, what we tell ourselves and what we say out loud, is of critical importance. Our brains take what we say as truth. Be careful of the words you use because they shape your decisions and then, ultimately, your success.
And finally, celebrate the small wins because they matter.
Don’t want to do the happy dance until you’ve reached some big Finish Line? Not the best plan. Whether you choose to keep your less obvious wins to yourself or not, please be sure to note them. Didn’t yell when your boss said the same rude, inappropriate remark for the 100th time this month? (And yes, I’m looking at you Mr. ‘I’m-so-special’ Clinical Director from back in the day…I digress…) Give yourself a star for the day and remind yourself you’ve started to make this change.
Don’t Forget
If you feel that by today it’s already too late to achieve your goal, please reconsider. Today is a new day and really, today is the day you just need to do your best. The change you are looking for will come if you just keep going.
Want some extra help? Feel that you’ve strayed too far off course to get back on your own? I’m here and I’m happy to help. You’ve got to be the one to reach out but when you do I commit to you to respond quickly. Looking for me directly? Start here: https://lisacurtislcsw.com/lets-connect/
