Setting New Year’s resolutions is a waste of time

New Year’s resolutions are pointless.

If you believe the research, most people have given up by the end of January. And 17^th January is even known as Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day!

And why do resolutions rarely work?

I think there are two reasons.

1. People set New Year’s resolutions based on what they think will make them happy. Their attention is focused on the symptom instead of the cause.

Apparently, the most common New Year’s resolutions are to get fit and lose weight. How often have you heard someone say ‘if I was fitter I’d be happier’ or ’if I lost a little weight I’d be happier’.

The truth is, happiness is not about being a certain weight or having a certain fitness level. Happiness is a state of being. Happiness comes from within. It’s not about what you look like. It’s about how you feel. It’s about being happy with who you are right now on the inside.

2. Lack of planning.

Hoping and wishing do not lead to success. It’s about planning for success. A New Year’s resolution is a goal which can be more easily achieved by breaking it down into small manageable steps.

Successfully achieving a New Year’s resolution is about creating, nurturing and embedding a new habit, which takes practice. It’s staying motivated even when things go wrong. It’s keeping the momentum going until you get to where you want to go.

And don’t get me started on the whole, New Year New You.

Let me tell you now, don’t invest time and effort in creating a new you. There is nothing wrong with you. You do not need fixing. You do not need to change for anyone, especially if your driver is to fit in.

Instead spend time reconnecting with who you are.

However, if you want to change things for the better in 2023 and you’d like some advice then this is what I suggest.

Commit to changing the cause

Look past the symptom and commit to resolving the cause. Understand why you want to change and make sure that it is worth it.

I remember reading somewhere about a grandmother who wanted to quit smoking. She’d tried everything but nothing worked. That was until she was asked why she wanted to quit smoking. Her response was simple, she wanted to live so that she could watch her grandchildren grow up. Until then, she hadn’t really thought about it. That gave her the motivation to stop smoking.

Accept that this is a lifestyle change

It’s about changing your mindset and accepting that this is going to be a lifestyle change. In other words, you’re signing up for something that is permanent.

If this scares you and makes you think twice then this is a red flag that is telling you you’re probably going to fail!