New Years Resolutions - don't do it in the new year!

Two thirds of resolutions fail by the middle of January. So, what makes maintaining a new year’s resolution so hard?

Part of the problem is that people are generally bad at ignoring their current state when making decisions about how they will feel in the future.

Another part of the problem is that temptations are always available, which provides added complications since we are biologically programmed to live for the present.

When you make a New Year’s resolution, you will most likely be relaxed, replete with festive food and in a holiday mood, perhaps surrounded by family and friends.

Stresses from work are likely not at the top of your mind and few of the day-to-day pressures that make these commitments difficult are present.

People also commonly underestimate the strength of the future cravings and desires that could derail their resolution, especially if they’re not presently experiencing a craving or desire or have recently over-indulged.

In essence, the so-called ‘empathy gap’ is working against you, meaning that how you feel now is stopping you empathising with your future self. So.....

• Make that New Year’s Resolution: It is not a waste of time and you are ten times more likely to achieve your goal if you make a resolution than if you do not;
  

• Make it about what you want to achieve today, and for the rest of this month;
  

• Garner social support and strengthen your commitment by telling everyone what you plan to do. Splash it across social media;
  

• Then, sit down and spend a few minutes imagining, as vividly as you can, what you will do today to get started on your plan, what you will do next, and how good it will feel to succeed each day.