New Year, New You
by Amanda Keegan
Every year when the clock strikes midnight and a new year has begun, millions of people force themselves into setting a New Year's resolution - a goal that they will conceivably attain within the next twelve months. The most popular resolutions include quitting smoking, losing weight, performing better at work, and becoming a nicer person. Unfortunately, these are also the most failed resolutions that are often given up after just two or three weeks. Trust me - I work at a gym. I've seen New Year's resolutions bring in a whole slew of new faces hoping to shed those holiday pounds and get in shape. But just as fast as the New Year comes and goes, so do those unfamiliar faces, never to set foot in the gym again. Every year I ponder the same question: Why do the majority of Americans fail at keeping their resolutions?
Perhaps it's because the act of setting a resolution is such a popular American tradition. These resolutions are often made on a whim and are not pre-meditated or thought out. The man who decides on December 31st that he is going to make $10,000 more annually may not succeed at this because he had no plan of attack. It seems that setting a resolution is more of a fad - a way to answer the dinner table question, “What is your New Year's resolution?” The psychology behind setting a goal for yourself with the New Year has a lot to do with the success or failure of attaining it. It's simple - a resolution must be thought out in order to be achieved.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when making a resolution is making them too big to attain. The result? Immediate discouragement. The person who wants to lose 50 pounds in three months must realize that they first have to lose 5, 10, and 20 pounds to get there. After a week of dieting, a step on the scale may show only a loss of two or three pounds. After what may seem like a ton of exercise, diet, and self discipline, a loss of only a couple of pounds is definitely discouraging. But on the other hand, a loss of two or three pounds is better than no loss at all. Here is where people fail: they don't recognize that a small amount of initial achievement is better than no achievement at all. And before they can see how much farther they can take their weight loss, they give up and are back to square one. The first step to making a successful New Year's resolution is to set an attainable goal and realize that it may take more time and hard work than expected.
There's another problem that the spontaneous resolution-maker runs into - not realizing that their goals often require a change in lifestyle. A perfect example is someone who is looking to quit smoking. To kick this addicting habit, a person must completely distance themselves from cigarettes. This may mean not spending as much time with other smokers or making absurd rules such as "I'm only going to have one cigarette after this drink." A resolution to quit smoking is a huge goal that requires a clear plan of action. It cannot be a spur of the moment decision. This kind of resolution making may last for a few days, but will quickly end in discouragement. Just as with weight loss or a job, making a huge change in your life such as quitting smoking requires a change in lifestyle. If you are looking for a promotion at your job, you must realize that you might have to put in a few extra hours at the office in to prove yourself. With weight loss, it has been found that people who go on strict no-carb diets do lose weight initially, but quickly gain it all back with binge eating after they taste their first bite of a bagel. With smoking it's the same thing; you could go months without a cigarette, but the minute someone tempts you with one, all of your hard work is wasted. To make a New Year's resolution like any of these, it is important to understand the life change that you are about to make. You must sit down and think about all of the things that you may have to add or eliminate in your life to create a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
Like any goal, whether it's made on New Years or in the middle of the year, it takes complete dedication to achieve. After a few weeks, this new lifestyle will seem only natural, and new habits will be created. For example, if your resolution is to start recycling more, it may initially be a pain to organize a recycling system within your home. However, within a matter of days, it will become second nature to throw a plastic water bottle into a recycling bin instead of the trash. And on those rare occasions when you do throw the bottle in the trash, you will innately become more aware of your action and feel a sense of guilt. The same thing goes with cigarettes, food, and work. If you smoke one cigarette, indulge in a piece of chocolate cake (or two), or leave work early, you will feel guilty once you have developed new, healthier habits.
The key to achieving the often dreaded New Year's resolution is to remain focused. Setting and achieving attainable goals will empower you to step up your game and increase the stakes. The New Year always offers a fresh start - thinking about how you envision yourself during this year is the first place to begin when making a resolution. Always remember that it's not a bad thing to start small; changing a lifestyle takes time and focus. So get empowered and get going already!
For a list of sources, email the writer at amandakeegan@crossingsmagazine.org.
