Why don’t new year resolutions work?

2022 has just begun and it is that time of the year when everyone is full of zest, excitement and full of determination to set their “New Year Resolutions”.?

The history of setting the new year resolutions goes back to about 2000 BC when Babylonians celebrated New Year with a resolution to repay their debts and borrowed equipment in that year.?

However, in today's time, New Year resolutions have become synonymous with ‘promises to be broken’. It is almost understood that the resolutions set on New Year are likely to be not completed, and in most cases, not even worked upon even once.?

Isn’t it ironic that we are setting goals for ourselves with a perceived belief that they won't be achieved? What does it do to our motivation and self-belief? It all takes a big hit.?

Let us look at a few common factors which do not allow new year’s resolutions to work for us:

1. Not setting them consciously:

If you were to ask maybe 100 people about their new year resolutions, you are bound to get the top common answers as - “reducing weight”, “saving more”, “quit smoking/ drinking”.

The fact is that though these may be something you really need while setting them, you don’t really want to make an effort for them. These are being set as the ideal resolutions, and we all know that ideal does not work!

There is no point in deciding something which everyone expects or is doing. Your goals and resolutions need to be “yours”. You need to be conscious enough to look at your life position, desire and willingness to choose things you really want to work on. A comparative or idealistic approach to setting resolutions will not work.

2. Taking on more than one can chew:

There is no point in creating a new year resolution list that is less than 10 points, right? But does this help??

By October and November, our mind starts playing tricks. We push everything to January in the garb of setting new year resolutions. This piles up our list. And, of course, this list then overwhelms us. Now add the element of “doing things perfectly” to this mix, and you run into the mode of inaction.?

You need to analyse your capacity to take on things and then work accordingly. It is always better to decide one thing you would actually do instead of 10 that you may or may not do. So start small. Give yourself time and space.?

3. Linking everything to New Year:

The biggest problem with new year resolutions is that they are linked to the “New Year”, and the year gets “old” pretty quickly (a few days or a couple of weeks max!).

Once the euphoria of the new year fades away, the motivation on things linked to the new year fades away too. Thus, lack of motivation sets in quickly.?

Why follow a tradition/trend for the sake of it? Why can’t we make resolutions every month, every week, or every day? Why not resolve to do 50 pushups today, and take care of tomorrow, tomorrow?

4. No planning:

Setting goals and resolutions is a step that will lead to nowhere if not backed by proper planning. Planning the goals while setting them will give you utmost clarity on what, how much and when you can do things.?

If you want to read something and have not been able to find time for it in December 2021, how do you expect to find time for it in January 2022 suddenly??

So while setting your resolutions, plan how you will do it? Can you find that 15 mins of time before you go to bed to read a few pages? Would you read with your spouse and have you collaborated with them already? If you can listen to audiobooks, can you utilize your travel time in that??

Thinking through the how and when of your goals will help you be realistic in your approach and eventually see real results!

5. No tracking:

Consistent review and tracking of your progress is the ultimate key to bringing desired results and changes. Set up a system that works for you - printing a tracker and putting it up on your wall, following to-do reminder apps, or using the spreadsheet - whatever works. But the essential part is setting time weekly to review your progress.

Reviewing allows you to make necessary changes in your methods and routine to keep you on track. You may sometimes reduce your time or effort depending upon your plan for the upcoming week, but this would ensure that you are making consistent progress.

In the end, resolutions are nothing but a method to work and change our habits. If done consciously, the whole experience would be joyful. When we make these too big, we are already scared about not achieving them. There is never a best time nor a bad time to start working on yourself. Start small. Set weekly or daily targets for yourself. Start making things part of your routine.?

Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day, but definitely through constant daily efforts. Happy New Year 2022 to all!?