Why New Year's Resolutions DON'T WORK!
•Weight loss
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After a crazy year, everyone is setting their New Year's resolutions and wishing the rest of 2023 away. The problem is if you think a date change is going to magically fix all your problems well you are barking up the wrong tree.
If you try to be good, cut back on sugar, hit the gym, go for a walk at lunch every day, take up a new hobby, find a new job, or play a new sport - resolutions are on the brain. The aim is to start small and straight away.
So the big question is do they really work? Well for most of us, they probably won't. But don’t worry boys - it’s not you - it’s science!
Here’s why we generally fail miserably at our New Year oaths.
It's not your own goal
Do you ACTUALLY want to cut out coffee or start going for more jogs around the block? Nope.
Maybe you’ve heard someone else is doing the same and so you’ve said, ‘Why not?’ Who wouldn't want to run a full marathon in under 6 months coming off the couch?
Stay true to how you can make YOUR life better. Everyone’s goals are different.
Timing is not everything
We get it, everyone is like this year I'm gonna do it! or new year new me!
To be honest pretty sure there is nothing wrong with the current you or maybe you just need a few tweaks. Either way, don't put all of your hopes and dreams on Jan 1 or the "New Year" for you to magically change everything about you.
Just pick a day and start. One day at a time and grind it out. If you stuff up and blow out for a day or weekend then just dust yourself off and hit reset.
The best way to think about it is you are trying to have a good day instead of a good year.
Motivation doesn't really exist
We always hear people saying, ‘After I do this, I’ll have the motivation to do that.’
Is motivation what we think it is? It’s likely the case that we’re just procrastinating because we know we’re about to do something we don’t want to!
Sorry boys, there’s no time for waiting about - dive right in NOW!
It sounds cringe
They call it a New Year’s resolution. Doesn’t that make you cringe?!
All of a sudden everyone on TV is talking about New Year's resolutions and how to make this year your year, on and on. The truth is setting huge expectations for a whole year is only going to set you up for failure.
Focus on each day and do what you can to get that win. Over time it will build up and before you know it you'll be where you want to be.
Go big or go home
Often our resolutions are very broad and large - hence why they fall by the wayside along with our self-will. When we tell ourselves ‘I’m going to eat better’ or ‘I’m going to exercise more,’ we’re usually not helping ourselves.
Instead, you need to focus on specific goals and go at them 100%.
Things like drinking 2 litres of water a day, losing 10kg in a month, and preparing my meals for next week. All these things add up to broader goals overall by breaking them down into smaller steps over time.
