Setting a New Year’s Resolution can be a fun tradition to ring in the new year, but they are flawed for most people searching for genuine self-improvement.
A New Year’s Resolution is usually defined as an individual’s specific aspiration toward self-improvement at the beginning of a new year, whether that means engaging in positive behaviour, quitting a bad habit or working toward a personal goal. For many, the start of a new year seems to imply a “fresh start,” leading to a personal commitment toward a positive life change.
…well, perhaps “commitment” is too strong a word. The unfortunate truth about New Year’s Resolutions is that the vast majority tend to be broken within the first few months, or even weeks, of the year. It’s estimated that 80 per cent of New Year’s Resolutions end in failure, with many participants losing their motivation to work on self-improvement as early as mid-February.
It may seem overly pessimistic, but the truth is that the concept of a New Year’s Resolution poses a few problems that make eventual failure inevitable for many. But this doesn’t mean that making a commitment to self-improvement is always bound to fail; it simply calls the concept and execution of the New Year’s resolution into question.
The U.S. News and World Report offers a few reasons as to why so many New Year’s Resolutions end in failure and strategies to become more productive and motivated.
For one, many New Year’s resolutions are far too grand, and this can lead to an individual becoming overwhelmed. Setting an overly ambitious goal can lead to a loss in motivation when results aren’t immediate, which should be expected when setting a major life goal.
Instead, says the Report, it’s important to remember that long-lasting change is incremental, and each small step is important on the journey to a greater ambition. In other words, when creating a New Year’s resolution – or, committing to positive change at any other time of year – try to think small and remember to celebrate your small victories along the way.
Self-sabotage is also responsible for the failure of many New Year’s resolutions. While the intent to work toward improvement is certainly a positive thing, it won’t mean anything in the long run if a person doesn’t do anything to “enhance [their] capacity to either sustain motivation or handle the inevitable stress and discomfort involved in change,” according to clinical psychologist Joseph J. Luciani.
The Ohio State University details a few more reasons why so many New Year’s resolutions fall through. Obstacles should be expected when setting a personal goal, and the creation of a plan can help limit setbacks or failure. It’s also worth looking into methods of personal accountability, such as telling a friend or getting a coach, to stay motivated.
Interestingly, the University notes that those setting a goal simply for the sake of tradition are more likely to lose motivation than those doing it because of a “need”.
Therein lies the main issue with setting New Year’s resolutions. Aspiring for self-improvement is certainly noble, but if it’s done simply to follow a tradition rather than genuinely seeking growth, there likely won’t be motivation to continue with a resolution once the excitement of the new year wears off. It’s easy to look at the new year as a fresh beginning, but after some weeks pass by, the feeling of a “new year” will inevitably wear off and motivation will likely leave with it.
Instead, it might be more beneficial to start working toward a personal goal when the time feels right for the individual, rather than wait for an arbitrary date on the calendar for a resolution to begin. If the high of a new year is the only thing keeping you motivated, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when your motivation eventually begins to falter.
It’s always a good thing to work toward self-improvement, but those who genuinely hope to make a personal change would be wise to consider the deeper nuances behind what it means to stay motivated. Achieving a personal goal is far from impossible, but it usually requires more thought than that posed by a New Year’s resolution.