The keys to New Year’s success
While millions of people spent their New Year’s Eve celebrating, reveling in the joy of completing another year’s hardships and enjoying another year’s prosperity, in the back of many minds was a plan for the future.
You may be familiar with the term ‘New Year’s resolution,’ and if you’re not, well, perhaps your resolution should be to pay attention to modern culture. New Year’s resolutions date back to the early days of the Roman calendar. They begin on 1st of January, as that month, named after Janus, the god of beginnings, brings in the New Year.
Since then, New Year’s resolutions have been used as a catalyst for change in the lives of people around the world. What is most interesting about these promising goals for the New Year is exactly what people are trying to change. What is also interesting is how many will succeed. According to several news sources, this year’s popular resolutions are similar to last year’s, and the year before that: quit smoking, lose weight, and get in shape.
It might be that these resolutions are always frequenting the top ten lists because they’re such healthy ideas.
It could also be because no one succeeds in keeping them.
Recent studies by the science website, Quirkology showed that while 52 per cent of people felt confident about achieving their New Year’s goals, a disheartening 12 per cent were actually successful. Such a low score for such an optimistic goal might leave one asking, why is everyone failing at this crucial time of change?
Apparently the reasons for failure are quite simple, and rather avoidable if one is careful and determined.
Most goals lack a specific aim, claims www.ctv.ca, and this makes it hard to know just what one is reaching for. People are more likely to succeed when they create a goal that is measurable – something concrete, as opposed to just setting out on the dream of skinny and hoping for the best. A resolution should also be approached with a system by which a person can assess their progress.
By setting small goals along the way, the job of getting fit or quitting smoking becomes less daunting, and seeing real results is often just the encouragement one needs to press on where others fail.
It can be argued that much of your success this year will come down to self-control, an area where only you can ensure success, and where most of the problems occur. But it doesn’t have to be all teardrops and heartache come this February, when reality sets in and New Year’s resolutions start to crumble.
Recent success story and U of G student Jeremy Boychyn made it clear that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but for this now non-smoker, it was no easy road.
“It’s not easy,” he began, in talking about quitting smoking last year. “A big part of the problem is association. So many things in your life are connected; you have a coffee, you want a smoke; you drink a beer, you want a smoke.
“Breaking the habit or achieving any goal has to do with your surroundings. It comes down to a lifestyle that promotes either the change you’re looking for, or staying the same.”
Boychyn also had some great advice on being vocal about your goals, and sharing your resolutions with the people you care about.
“It’s easy to let yourself down and make up excuses,” he said. “But it’s hard to let down the people around you.
“Just knowing that your friends and family know what you’re working towards is a huge help in pushing you to do better, in pushing you to succeed.”
Studies show an increase in success when resolutions are made public.
So whether your resolution this year is to quit smoking, lose some weight or just live a happier life, keep in mind that there are things you can do to help yourself:
- Make your goal measurable and specific.
- Assess your progress along the way.
And finally, share the goal with your friends. They’re the ones who’ll keep you going when the going gets tough. Good luck everyone, and Happy New Year.
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