Have you ever really stuck to your New Year resolution? If you say no you are not alone! Why though? Why is January 1st so different than December 31st or December 1st?
New Year resolutions have become so popular if you don’t make one your probably one of the minorities! But if they only last for a month sometimes less why are they such a big deal? (We have all been to the gym in January…..UUUGGGGG.)
I get that it is a new year and a seemingly fresh start. A time to be out with the old in with the new. It’s the same idea as starting a new program or diet, who starts on Sunday! Ha! Nobody!
This is all great but why then if we put such importance on these resolutions they rarely last till December...or June...or February for that matter! Isn’t there a better way?!
I have started using 3 month goal setting sheets with my clients instead of new year resolutions. Why? Well 3 months seems to be a good amount of time to get into a new habit, get it going, see results and reevaluate the goals for a new 3 months! Its like 4 resolutions in a year! :)
Another reason this is great is because it lets you slowly build a habit or stop a habit. How many people say they are going to start a diet, go to the gym everyday or stop drinking for a new year resolution and try to do it cold turkey? (except the gym...would opposite of cold turkey be hot turkey? You get my point!) You have the opportunity to break your resolution down into smaller goals to keep you on track and accountable. Set your phone for March 1st to go back and look at your resolution/goals. It will either give you a sense of accomplishment or hold you accountable if you haven't met them. You can now set new higher goals or be aware that you did not meet them and change things before it is too late and the year is over!
Some people can get away with a new year resolution but many can’t! I am not much of a resolution setter myself but I think they can be fun, give hope, a feeling of newness and change but this year I am going to try to join my clients and make 4 resolutions….spread out every 3 months! Hopefully at the end of the year I have stuck with and blown past my first set of resolutions!
So give it a try! Set your resolution but set small parts of it and see how it goes!