It’s sad to say that millions of people fail at their New Year’s resolutions. Why is that the case? Many factors contribute to this, but one of the primary reasons is that people bite off more than they can chew, or they are a bit too ambitious with their goals. If you don’t want to lose steam or need a little more motivation to help you stick to your resolutions, the tips in this article can help.
Statistically, 38.5% of U.S. adults set New Year’s resolutions every year. About 23% of them abandon those resolutions by the end of the first week, with only 9% of them keeping their resolutions throughout the year. Why do resolutions fail and what can you do to keep them? Here’s how to make them stick.
Use Visual Reminders
If you can’t see it, you aren’t thinking about it, or so say clinical psychologists. One study on approach-oriented goals emphasized the importance of keeping objectives present, both visually and mentally. You can do this by creating visual cues. For example, if your goal is to drink more water every day, place a water bottle on your desk as a reminder to hydrate more often. Post affirmations on your bathroom mirror or set reminders on your phone. Writing your goals down and placing them in high-traffic areas can strengthen the connection between visual cues and resolution success.
Think of visual cues as gentle nudges that reinforce the habits you want to keep. You can practice doing this by creating a vision board with the theme “Becoming My Best Self.” You can use prompts such as, “I am at my best when…” in order to guide your vision and connect it to your routine. One study found that vision boards can have a direct impact on goal achievement. The reason for this is because they leverage the influence of motivated perception on goal pursuit.
Leverage Social Connections
According to a 2023 study by the Institute of Applied Psychology at Zhejiang University of Technology in China, social support drastically impacted how Chinese college students achieved their goals. There is value to encouraging and uplifting others as they work toward their goals, and vice versa. When you cheer others on, or they cheer you on, it reinforces commitment and helps you build resilience when you encounter setbacks.
Break Resolutions Into Small Steps
It is very easy to give up on New Year’s resolutions if they are too general, such as, “I will get in shape this year.” That sounds great, but you will lose steam without a clear plan. Studies confirm that breaking your goals into smaller and more specific actions can help you succeed. Instead of simply trying to work out more, commit to walking 20 minutes every day or attending two yoga classes every week. Those are easy tasks to manage and help you build your drive and keep you engaged as you progress toward bigger goals. To make small steps more effective, consider applying the following behavioral changes:
- Make it attractive because the more you enjoy an activity, the likelier you are to keep at it. Additionally, pair your exercise with your favorite podcast or music playlist.
- Make it obvious by defining your goals and placing visual reminders, for example, on a vision board.
- Celebrate the small wins in order to reinforce your progress, because that will keep your drive alive.
- Start with simple, manageable actions that help you build momentum toward your bigger goals.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
