Every New Year, we all seem to make the same resolutions. Whether it’s to eat right, go to the gym or read more books, time and time again, about a month into the year, we give up on our yearly goals.
A survey released by ellipticalreviews.com outlined the main reasons why people were unable to keep up their 2018 New Year’s resolutions. Of those surveyed, 58 percent of people expressed that they did not have enough willpower, while 44 percent told the site that it was due to the lack of a plan and 22 percent said that they tried to make too drastic of a change too quickly.
While will-power is the main reason people do not stick to their goals, there is no way to gain this will-power without being realistic with what you can achieve. Many people say that as soon as the new year hits they will immediately start eating healthy and going to the gym five times a week, but after a holiday season filled with pigging out and lazing around, this is impossible for most people.
Instead of having an unrealistic expectation for ourselves and just assuming that out of nowhere we will gain the inspiration we need to achieve our goals, try outlining smaller details that will fit into a bigger picture. Starting small is key to making a big impact.
Want to eat healthier? Great, but don’t just go to Farmer’s Field in Digs to grab a salad every time you’re craving some nuggets. You’re going to be unsatisfied and grow bored quickly. Instead, allow yourself a balance with meals. A grilled chicken sandwich at Chick-Fil-A is a good alternative that will satisfy you and make you excited for your next meal.
Planning on going to the gym? Many people upon turning up to the gym are not sure what to do. They will end up running on the treadmill for a while, before feeling too embarrassed to do anything else and heading home. Instead, try out some if the group fitness classes offered for free to students at the West Center. A schedule of classes is available on the Winthrop website.
Do you want to spend less money? When hanging out with friends, one of our go-to activities tends to be going shopping or eating out. This puts you in a situation full of temptation. Instead, find affordable activities to do with friends that you either don’t have to spend money on or that you have a set amount of money, like bowling, hiking or starting a new show online.
By allowing yourself time to adjust to your new habits and not forcing yourself to go to extremes right away, it will make your resolutions more achievable. When you aren’t overwhelmed at the start, you can build up willpower and motivation over time, so it won’t be a drastic change too quickly. Make a plan for yourself and remember, every day is a new day with a new chance to create change in your life. If your plans haven’t worked out so far, give yourself another chance to get started on them.
