Set yourself up for success ~ Don't make a New Year's Resolution

According to some statistics, 43% of those who make a New Year’s Resolution quit before February. 1 in 4 people will quit just after the first week, and only about 9% of those who make a resolution will actually stick to them for an entire year.

Don’t set yourself up for failure with a New Year’s Resolution; instead, initiate a Keystone Habit. Starting a new habit can often be the toughest part. Once established, however, it becomes ingrained and effortless – a habit that requires minimal thought, planning, and commitment. Relying solely on willpower and motivation is more challenging as they can be difficult to obtain and maintain. This is where Keystone Habits come into play on your journey towards incorporating healthy habits one step at a time…for a lifetime.

But what exactly is a Keystone Habit? Coined by Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, Keystone Habits are those that automatically lead to multiple positive behaviors and effects in your life. All habits follow a three-step loop – Cue – Routine – Reward. The Cue triggers the brain to go into automatic mode, the Routine is the set of actions involved, and the Reward is what you gain from performing the habit. Whether good or bad, all habits follow this loop, and disrupting the routine is the only way to change the habit.

To break a habit, it’s helpful to break it down into smaller chunks. You can reduce the frequency of engaging in a specific habit each week and gradually progress toward eliminating it entirely. However, even if you successfully break a habit, the neurological pathways that were initially created will remain. This serves as a reminder to avoid falling back into those bad habits once complacency sets in.

For a new habit to become lasting, the brain must start craving the reward associated with the habit. Just like most of our bad habits, it’s the craving that triggers the desire to engage in the habit. It’s crucial to work towards craving the good habit so you subconsciously act on it.

When working to change a new habit, it’s helpful to start by interrupting the routine. Instead of quitting cold turkey, mix up the sequence of events. This confuses the brain and interrupts its anticipation and desire for a specific habit.

Since it’s easier to add a good habit than to remove a bad one, begin with one good Keystone Habit that will eventually lead to subsequent positive habits. For instance, if exercising often triggers the urge to eat something healthy or drink more water, starting with light exercise as a Keystone Habit is a wise choice. Alternatively, you can start with something as easy as making your bed in the morning. This new routine will lead to a feeling of accomplishment, which can then empower you to continue feeling successful as the day progresses, leading you to another positive task.

As you look forward to 2024 with anticipation and new goals, keep in mind that setting big goals is more trendy than achievable (or even necessary). A word of caution – as you scroll through your social media feeds, you will see many people sharing their enthusiasm for the new year and promoting the importance of setting new goals.

Avoid starting your new year with a failure (due to a New Year’s Resolution) and give yourself permission to start with one small good habit using the Keystone Habit method. Enjoy the benefits of a Healthier and Happier YOU!

Want a FREE downloadable Workbook to help you overcome barriers and determine your 2024 Keystone Habits? Click HERE

Yours in wellness,

Lisa Lounsbury

~ Permission to Reprint and Repost (my name must accompany the article)

About the Author

Lisa Lounsbury is the founder of New Day Wellness Inc. She has been a passionate wellness advocate for over 30 years and his combining her expertise in corporate wellness, mental health training and lifestyle coaching to offer a common sense approaching to living a healthy well-balanced lifestyle.