Christmas has been and gone, and coming along right behind it is the New Year, bringing one of the last traditions of the festive period: making a New Year’s resolution. While these resolutions may differ according to each person and what they are hoping to achieve in their lives next year, there are a few that are particularly common. The five most popular resolutions in the United Kingdom for 2012 were, in descending order: spending more time with family and friends, improving fitness, reducing obesity, quitting smoking and enjoying life more.
So as we are nearing the end of 2012, are we fitter, slimmer, non-smokers who enjoy the life they are living with their family and friends? Ah, there it is. The barrier that stands between us and all of our hopes and dreams (or at least what we can fit into a coherent resolution) has arrived in the fact that there is a large difference between making a New Years’ resolution and actually keeping one. But, how successful is the average resolution? According to an American survey, 75% of people keep their resolution in the first week, and 71% keep it past two weeks. And yet, when it comes to keeping them on a longer term basis, 64% kept their resolutions past one month and less than half kept theirs past the six month mark. As well as this, it is suggested that only 8% of people have success consistently keeping their resolution. Considering these statistics, it is a wonder that we are still making resolutions at all. After all, why bother if you won’t be successful?
With this in mind, why and who exactly is making these resolutions, and evidently failing to follow through? Is it just a case of millions of people experiencing the same wandering thoughts of “Yeah, I could probably improve on last year”? Who exactly are among these millions of people and what does it mean for us? A philosophical question indeed. In answer, it is apparently good news; the younger generation may actually stand a better chance of keeping their resolutions going. People in their twenties that are achieving their resolutions each year number 39% out of their total, which compares positively to those in their fifties who are lagging behind at 14%. You could say that the younger generation have more will power in this situation; or some of us anyway.
Just how are they doing it? For those of you with your eye on the prize, these tips may help you to keep that all important goal. According to the online site PsychCentral, there are five simple rules you can follow to help you carry on your resolution. These include keeping your goals realistic, and making them specific, with clear steps you plan to take in order to work towards achieving your goal. For the productive few among us who plan to study more and reap the academic success that will inevitably…or hopefully follow it, a revision timetable could do the trick. This is just in time for those of us with the oh so dreaded and joyless January exams to look forward to. Setting a schedule for when and how you want things to be progressing in three, six or twelve months’ time is also important if you want to have real success in keeping on track. Plus, don’t forget help and support is out there should you suffer any setbacks, and learn to accept that these are an inevitable part of the resolution-making process.
So, for those strong willed few among us planning on setting a resolution this coming New Years, remember it’s not an easy path without obstacles. Though if you keep in mind the clear five step guide to success, and add this to the most important factor of all…motivation, what’s to stop us from being the best we can be next year? With this attitude, roll on 2013!