Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail…….And What To Do Instead!

So it’s the New Year. You want to make changes and now’s the time.

Maybe it’s to stop drinking wine every day? Cut down on your coffee? Or get back to the gym? Train for a race? ….or maybe it’s all of them. 

But here’s the kicker. 95% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. Ouch! 

So if the failure rate is so high, how do people make changes? Because we can make changes, right? Surely there are more than 5% of us who are capable of change. Aren’t there?

Yes. And you are one of them. You just need to know HOW. 

But first, let’s look at why so many people do fail and just go back to their unhealthy ways.

We bite off more than we can chew! We are basically over-optimistic. Unrealistic. We think we can suddenly achieve the previously unachievable, just because it’s January. 

The good news is that there is a solution… 

Crystal Clear Clarity

The first – and most important – place to start is getting crystal clear clarity on what you want – and why? 

WHY do you want to go to the gym? To lose a few pounds? 

That’s such a beige response. 

WHY do you want to drink 2 litres of water each day? Just because you know you should? That’s not really going to keep you motivated, is it? 

Instead, try to think about the thing that you want to gain from achieving your resolution. 

Drinking more water might boost your energy. Improve your focus. Give you more stamina for your day. Allow you to train stronger in the gym. Make your skin look smoother and younger. 

But that’s still top-level stuff. You have to go deeper. 

Why do you want more focus and stamina? Why do you want more energy? What will it allow you to do? 

Well, with more focus, energy, and stamina you can get more done, be a better partner or parent, move your business forward faster, and have a more positive impact on the lives of those around you. 

Now that’s more compelling. 

Do you see the difference? Find your WHY and make it good. No. Make it awesome!

Yes! Crystal clear clarity is the key. Focus on your target. On your goals. On your finish line. And your reason for your journey.

That’s why with all my clients, the first thing we do is work out their North Star. Your mission. Your purpose. You can learn more about it in my previous blog post here… 

Sharpen Your Axe

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Simple.

You wouldn’t head to battle without the right weapons. 

You wouldn’t build a house without the right tools. 

So we shouldn’t make changes without the right building blocks in place. 

–You want to cut processed crap from your diet? Take it out of the house.

–You want to stop drinking? Give those bottles of wine away.

–You want to get fitter? Find a sport you love.

Make your home an environment to succeed in. Make your workplace the same too. Don’t give yourself more battles than you need to face. 

Plan. Streamline. Keep things simple. Make these healthy changes happen.

Look at the foundation you are trying to build on. Make sure you get enough sleep so you are well-rested. Be sure to fuel your body with nutritious food. Don’t squeeze too much into your diary on your gym days. 

And get the team, people, and resources in place to make it easier to succeed. 

Habits NOT Restrictions

Our day is made up of habits. Good ones. Bad ones. And terrible ones. We all have them. 

They are the building blocks of our day. The way we start the day and move on to the next element of our day. 

We have great habits. Like cleaning our teeth. A habit we perform twice daily without question.

We have good habits. Like drinking water. We might not always drink enough but we can often manage at least a bit of our quota. Great.

We have bad habits. 

Maybe you drink too much coffee even though you know it’s staining your teeth and giving you headaches?

Maybe you drink too much wine, even though you know it makes you feel rubbish and unable to fully focus and be on top of your game the next day?

But these are all tiny things? They can’t really matter that much? 

Habits matter most. 

You see when you take a small action and repeat it over time the results compound. You might think that one small biscuit a day with your cup of tea is no big deal, but that’s 365 biscuits a year. 3650 biscuits in a decade! 

This is great news! Because you can use it to your advantage. 

Habits are the answer to failed resolutions. 

By switching your thinking to creating habits that you repeat over time, rather than all-or-nothing resolutions, you’ll be able to get much bigger and more reliable results. 

To learn more about the importance of habits check out my previous blog post here…

Results Instead Of Excuses….

Change is hard. We all find it tough at first. But with the right mindset, the right support, and the right tools in your box change is not only possible, it’s within your grasp. 

Remember your goal. Your why. Your reason. And keep focused.

Our habits are the building blocks of our day.

It’s down to us to choose healthy habits to build with strong blocks. Good choices. Building success.

Or to choose unhealthy habits. Building with unhealthy blocks. Letting chances of success crumble away and come crashing down.

But you don’t have to make this journey alone. 

Research shows that having someone to be accountable makes those changes more likely to happen. 

Whether that’s a friend, a colleague, or a coach… 

Being accountable makes positive change 85% more likely to happen!

So if you want to make sure 2022 is the year that you make incredible changes and achieve your goals, ask someone to support you. 

And if you want to learn more about how I can help you to move forward, Click here…

Until next time…make it happen.