That’s right. You read that right. Three reasons NOT to make a New Year’s Resolution. Who amongst us has honestly made a resolution and stuck with it? Was it a life changing event? Did it improve quality of life?
I propose that we change it to New Year’s Lifestyle Changolution! Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Okay, maybe not. But when we say we are going to make a New Year’s Resolution, isn’t that generally what we are aiming for? A lifestyle change that will make our quality of life better?
So, why don’t they work? Here are 5 reasons why we should NOT make New Year’s Resolution, and instead, make a New Year’s Lifestyle Changolution: (I think I’m onto something here so hang with me)!
1. New Year’s Resolutions are often too too lofty. We indulge ourselves in December, and then when we hit that indulgence crash, we decide we are absolutely going to change our ways and become a superhero! Nothing can stop us! The sky’s the limit! We are mighty and powerful and can do all. . . . but just around January 1st. Then reality sets in. The long days of January start to chip away at our armor and we start to sink back into old ways. We put the cape away and decide maybe we aren’t superhero material after all.
2. New Year’s Resolutions tend to be absolute.
“I will never. . . . . . “
“I will always. . . . . “
“I’m never going to _______________ again!”
We put this absolute limitations on ourselves, again after over-indulging the month or so before, and think that is the answer. But absolutes have the opposite effect. For most of us, as soon as we decide we will never touch ice-cream again, that’s all we think about. We want ice cream for breakfast. We want it for lunch. Heck, let’s pack it in a cooler and take it to work with us. Then, as soon as we give into the thing we have decided to totally deny ourselves of, we throw up our hands, feeling like we’ve failed, and give in completely to whatever it is we have denied ourselves
3. New Year’s Resolutions are often short-sighted. Instead of looking at where we want to be in, say, 2 years when we make a New Year’s Resolution, we often look at the short term and wonder what we can fix right away. Quick fixes don’t often stick. They may solve the problem for a short while, but then time creeps in and the old ways rear their ugly heads.
So, what do we do instead? Let’s think about making a New Year’s Lifestyle Changolution. Here’s how:
1. Ask yourself where you want to be in 2 years. Do you want to be eating cleaner? Be more fit? Healthier? Take time to think about what is important to you and will most likely remain important to you over the next couple of years. What will make your quality of life richer? That becomes your Lifestyle Changolution.
2. Break that bigger goal down into smaller parts. This step is incredibly important but probably the one most neglected and the reason resolutions often fail.
*If your goal is to eat cleaner, start by adding foods to your diet to make it cleaner and healthier and then just think of one thing to decrease. Notice I didn’t say completely deny yourself (alcohol and soda may be the only 2 exceptions to this). By adding healthy and tasty foods, you may find the unhealthy foods slowly go away as you lose your craving for them.
*If you want to improve your fitness level, think of what it will take for you to make time for this. Time tends to be the #1 reason people say they don’t work-out. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to watch your kids for an hour a couple days a week. Instead of reading your book or binging on Netflix on your couch, do it on a stationary bike or treadmill. Walk to work. Take the stairs. Walk during your lunch or during breaks. Choose a class or exercise program that you ENJOY! We won’t stick with something that doesn’t bring us gratification. If you are a social person, find a class that has people similar to you already in attendance.
3. Use a calendar or planner to keep track of your progress. Nothing is more rewarding than looking back at where we started and then seeing progress. It can often be more rewarding than something tangible. However, there is a certain percentage of the population that responds better to tangible rewards. If you fall into that category, set up a reward for yourself or through somebody else that you can receive once you’ve achieved a certain level of your goal. I wouldn’t put it out 2 years as it is hard to stay motivated that long. Also, try and pick a reward that fits your new lifestyle goal. Going out for a big fried, greasy dinner when you’ve accomplished your clean eating goal is paradoxical.
Feeling overwhelmed? I can help you break down your goal. Simply email me or reply in the comments and I can get you started down the path to your new lifestyle.
Here’s to a Happy and Healthy 2020! Cheers!