Organization, weight loss, quality time, saving money, dieting, exercising, and learning new skills are the most common New Year’s resolutions that are never met.
Every year, thousands of people across America make New Year’s resolutions in hopes of improving their lifestyles. Little do they know, when people set these goals, only 9 percent of them will succeed.
“My New Year’s resolution last year was to stop drinking soda,” Sophomore Carter Andrews said. “Sadly, I did not reach my goal. I made it all the way until summer, but I gave in when I went on a family vacation.”
Success requires planning and dedication, most people who fail to complete their New Year’s resolution fail because they do not have a solid plan of action.
“I think the overall lack of success is due to the human tendency towards an optimism bias and the planning fallacy,” Counselor Leslie Mccaslin said. “We both overestimate our odds of success as a general rule, and we as humans are terrible at actually planning how much time and effort a given task will actually require.”
Achieving a New Year’s resolution starts with choosing a reasonable goal. Although someone could have all the motivation in the world, without a steady plan, they will not achieve their goal.
“So motivation isn’t really the problem, it’s that the motivation is inadequate to the task at hand,” Mccaslin said. “People always think it’s easier to change than it is.”
Most people fail due to setting unrealistic goals. Instead of setting one large goal, it is better to set several smaller goals that can lead to greater success.
“Unrealistic goals can lead to lack of success,” Counselor Gina Law said. “Goals should be smaller, several small goals possibly leading to a bigger outcome. This will allow for smaller successes and motivation to achieve the bigger goal.”
People should not feel bad about not succeeding in their resolution. Whether you accomplish your New Year’s Resolution or not, it does not define you as a person, it simply reflects your work ethic and planning.
“I don’t think that failing to achieve a goal means that a person is unsuccessful,” Law said. “Sometimes just having the goal and going through the process, working toward the stated goal, can be rewarding and lead to successes other than the stated goal. If the deadline or time put on the goal is removed…the goal can continue on…with good results.”
