Merry-Go-Round Resolutions

Have you been on the New Year’s resolution merry-go-round? Do you have pet resolutions which you try to keep every year only to break them very quickly? Then “join the club” as around 80% never achieve their objectives. You are taking part in a tradition which goes back, some 4000 years ago, to the ancient Babylon era. Their New Year was held on March 23rd, a logical choice, as it is when spring begins. Subsequent tampering with the Roman calendar resulted in a year being synchronised with the sun, as distinct from seasons, and New Year becoming January 1st. There are religious parallels to this secular tradition but the overall concept is the same, to reflect upon self-improvement on an annual basis.

Why is it that many of us make resolutions and fail to keep them? Recent research shows that only about 12% actually achieve and/or maintain their goals by the end of the year. Others are just on a regular annual merry-go-round of pet resolution failures. Is it a case of living the motto, “Try, try, try again and you may succeed?” Apparently men get better results when they set targets i.e. Lose one pound (lb) a week rather than committing to just “losing weight”. This approach means 22% more men benefit. If women use this method their achievement results are raised by 10%. The key to being successful with your resolutions is getting help from family, work colleagues and friends. Unfortunately it is often well meaning friends who cause you to break your resolution. “Go on, one cake will not harm you” or “One cigarette will help you relax” is often the “help” some friends are keen to give. Beware as these friends are usually the ones who have already failed in their own attempts to succeed at self-improvement commitments.

So what are the most favourite resolution topics and is yours one of them? Well currently in the top ten, but not in any particular order are;

• Lose Weight.
• Save Money – less debt.
• Gain promotion.
• Become environmentally responsible.
• Eat healthily.
• Drink less alcohol.
• Quit smoking.
• Keep fit.
• Learn/do something new.
• Reduce stress.

If you are still sticking to your resolution, well done, but here’s some strange ones others have made. Hopefully they will give you a fillip to stick to yours and succeed - Learn a new party trick handstand push- ups or rolling ones tummy muscles - Eat as many different types of unusual vegetables as possible including “alfalfa”, “salsify” and “Chioggia Guards” - Read and memorise more poetry - Perform a back flip on a motorcycle. However for the very rich, what about the mega-millionaire who resolves to, “actually set foot in all my houses this year, if I can remember where they all are!”

Finally a word of help for those of you determined to stick with your resolution. Ideally you should have already prepared a plan and written down your resolution. This enables you to focus and keep a track of your progress. If you have not already done this you must create your plan immediately. Life also has a funny way of throwing the unexpected at us, so it is worth remembering that some flexibility is required to sometimes reach even the simplest of goals. Remember resolutions cannot be accomplished in one day so think what a hundred tiny steps may realise in a year. Stick to it and you will no longer be on the merry-go- round of pet resolutions as you will have achieved success. Good luck.

DAVE EAGER