The Myth of the New Year’s Resolution

Don’t do it!

A multitude of Americans are waking up today after an alcohol fueled night of New Year’s Eve revelry and embarking on their complete life make over project. Don’t be one of them.

Every January health club memberships swell and bookstores sell out of self-help books as people seek to rebuild their entire lives with the dreaded litany called the New Year’s Resolution.

There are four key reasons that New Year’s Resolutions are doomed to failure.

  1. Too much emotion, not enough facts

Decisions are made based on facts and emotions. At least 10% of every decision is based on emotion and as the speed of the decision increases, so too does the emotional content. Former University of Connecticut Basketball coach Jim Calhoun once roared “Get some facts and come back and see me!” at an unsuspecting reporter. Follow his lead when it comes to making any goals for the New Year. Before starting on the journey of change go on a fact finding mission, building a foundation of knowledge.

  1. Low emotional energy

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are the closing acts to the holiday season. Consequently, we are emotionally drained and fragile. Embarking on a self-improvement laundry list at this time of year invites failure and decreased self-esteem. Couple this with the depths of winter when you get the annual energy nadir. Instead, winter is the best time to prepare. Spring, the season of new life, is the best time for action.

  1. Trying to change too much

When teaching sport skills, the rule of thumb is to identify the one error that, when corrected, will make the biggest improvement in performance. Only when the athlete successfully executes the new and improved movement consistently, is the next fundamental flaw addressed. Take this approach when catching your dreams. Pick the one thing that will make the most impact on your life and leave everything else alone. Maybe it is getting eight hours of sleep each night or reducing your intake of simple sugars. The key is to pick one and work on it every day for two months. At the end of these eight weeks, this change should take hold. Then it’s time to start improving the next big thing.

  1. Trying to change too fast

It takes the body three weeks to adapt to a physical change. It takes the mind a little longer than that – somewhere along the line of 60 days. Think about how long it took to develop whatever you are trying to change. Chances are it didn’t crop up overnight. So it is going to take some time to reverse the trend. Embrace the challenge and prepare for the long haul.

Unfortunately 90% of all the weight that is lost in 2015 will be regained by 2017. Although the gyms may be packed now, wait until after Valentine’s Day and you will never hear that dreaded phrase “Mind if I work in?” Don’t be another statistic. Embark on a plan of slow and steady growth of body, mind and spirit. The race isn’t always to the swift, but to those who keep going.

Thanks for reading, doc