27 Dec Ask these questions to not fail your new year’s resolution

It’s again that time of the year, when the calendar is going to get changed. While it’s easy to change the calendar, it’s not easy to change our lifestyle. But we try – the new year’s resolution!!!

Most people fail and forget about their resolutions within first few weeks..

A 2007 study by Richard Wiseman from the University of Bristol involving 3,000 people showed that 88% of those who set New Year resolutions fail, despite the fact that 52% of the study’s participants were confident of success at the beginning. (Source Wikipedia)

From Opinion Research Group

• 45% of Americans usually set New Year’s Resolutions; 17% infrequently set resolutions; 38% absolutely never set resolutions.
• Only 8% of people are always successful in achieving their resolutions.
• 19% achieve their resolutions every other year.
• 49% have infrequent success.
• 24% (one in four people) NEVER succeed and have failed on every resolution every year. That means that 3 out of 4 people almost never succeed.
• Of those who do set resolutions (these add to more than 100% because some people set multiple resolutions):
  34% set resolutions related to money
  38% set resolutions related to weight
  47% set resolutions related to self-improvement or education
  31% set resolutions related to relationships
• It appears that the younger you are, the more likely you are to achieve your resolutions:
  39% of those in their twenties achieve their resolutions every year or every other year
  Less than 15% of those over 50 achieve their resolutions every year or every other year

Most of the people are victims of “false hope syndrome”. False hope syndrome is characterised by a person’s unrealistic expectations about the likely speed, amount, ease and consequences of changing their behaviour.

Setting up goals is the easy part but following is the hardest. Most of the goals we see are set more emotionally rather than rationally. There are lot of tips out there to achieve your goals but very few to help you think before you set one.

So this time around, I want you to ponder on some questions before you make your resolutions. Thinking through and writing is going to give you added advantage on achieving your goals.

I call it the WWW.H process of setting goals. The ‘W’s will help you clarify and set, while ‘H’ will help you act on your goal.

What

Asking What is very important, most of the time the clients we work with don’t know what are they trying to change or create.

For example, This is the year, I want to become healthy. That’s excellent although to become healthy.

• What are you trying to change (unhealthy eating, sleeping, thinking patterns)?
• What are you trying to create (A new workout routine, a new healthy eating ritual, a self-care activity)
• What are you willing to sacrifice to stick with your resolutions?
• What are the consequences if I don’t make this change?
• What resources will I need to make this change?

Some people do have more specific Idea of WHAT they want to change. For Example, I want to quit smoking.

It’s good although, for smokers the statistics are much challenging

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests it takes up to 8 to 11 attempts. The American Cancer Society believes 8 to 10. The Australian Cancer Council is less optimistic with 12 to 14 attempts.

If you’ve had any failed attempts in the past, you should ask

• What have I learned from the past experiences?
• What am I going to change this time around?

Why

The WHY will give you reason for change. The WHY will give you motivation for consistency.

• Why is it important for me to make this change?
• Why should I priortise this above everything else in life?
• Why failure or procrastination is not an option?

When

When will make you analytical. You could ask these questions

If you want to change behaviour

• When do I perform certain behaviour? (ie. smoking, over eating, emotional eating)
• When do I not perform certain behaviour?

If you want to start new behaviour

• When is the best time to do the behaviour? (i.e. Walk in the morning, Fasting on Mondays)
• When will it be hardest to do the behaviour? (if you are trying to eat healthy, parties might be hardest to get healthy food)

How

How will get you into motion. It will help you create a plan of action.

• How will I start eating healthy? (Think about small things you can do. Prepare for action.)
• How would I feel if I don’t do certain behaviour? (for example, will I be okay If I don’t smoke or eat chocolate)
• How will I deal with obstacles? (Write down your specific plans) You will fail or derail yourself but having plan will help you acheive your goals despite difficulties.

How is for doing and not wishing. The answers of How will be action and task oriented.

The WWW.H is a pretty good way to get clarity. You can add your own questions as you see fit.

After asking all these questions, the biggest question is….How much I’m willing to suffer?

Yes my friends, there will be emotional and/or physical pain in achieving your goals.

I’ll give you few examples.

• Someone who has been having at least one meal outside daily, they will have to manage through lot of cravings to become a healthy eater.
• Someone who smokes regularly, will have physiological and emotional cravings. These cravings can drain your energy and make you irritaed without it.
• Getting up early in the morning to go to the gym could be a resolution for many. But the pain of getting up and sacrificing sleep is a lot.

You’ve to think about the suffering and sacrifice in advance. You’ll also have to think, when the discomfort hits, how are you going to behave? What tools and techniques you can utilise to stay on track?

If you feel that the goal will be hard. You can ask, What type of goal could make suffering/discomfort less? (this will help you scale down your goal a little bit.)

If you take yourself through above questions and answer honestly, you’ll have a better goal. A goal which can be easier to achieve. A goal with a plan to overcome obstacles. A goal which is taken rationally not emotionally.

Want to become fittest, healthiest and happiest version of yourself?

Most people want to be on top of their health. They know regular movement, nutritious meals, sleep and stress management is important. Although they need support and structure to apply their knowledge in the context of their busy, sometimes chaotic lifestyle.

That’s why we work very closely on mind, meal and movement of our clients so they can lose fat, get stronger, and improve their overall health… no matter what life throws at them.

Are you ready to change your life? Interested in Habit Based Nutrition Coaching? Get in touch now !!!

Good luck and best wishes for your goal !