It’s another year. Another time for you to write out those resolutions and decide on the New Year, New You. But how come the New Year, New You Doesn’t Work?
How weird that we have grown to create this custom. That is has become a thing in our society. The gyms get crazy busy and the pubs get empty (for about 2 weeks!!)
Your motivateD!
When doing our new years resolutions we think we have to change everything at once. We write down I want to be healthier. Then proceed to aim for going to the gym 3 times per week, taking classes, eating healthier and cutting out sugar. Maybe on top of that you are committed to walking to work or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
Your MOTIVATED and ready to do this! This year will be the change.
So why doesn't it work?
Well…. you are trying to chance all the things at once!! We only have so much energy. The first week you are determined (and you may have sometime off work).
You may find that you are feeling energised after taking a break over Christmas and New Year. So you have the initial energy to get you started.
But very quickly as you return to every day life and the buzz of the New Year leaves you. Your finding your old rituals and habits are taking over.
Grabbing that McDonalds at lunch time because you didn’t have time to make something before work.
Leaving the gym out this evening because that pile of paperwork isn’t going to do itself.
Changes take self-control and will power. Both of which is limited in energy. When you try and change 101 things at once you won’t have the energy to make it sustainable and will soon give up.
what should you do instead?
Rather than make the focus on the over all resolution (i.e. getting fitter). Break the resolution down and choose ONE thing from it to focus on in January and COMMIT to it.
If you decide that for January you are going to focus on healthier eating (as you want to get healthier) Then set aside a day/time to meal prep. Look at when you eat food that isn’t aligned with being healthy and ensure you have a healthy alternative.
IF YOU FAIL – Don’t give up! Look at why you failed, what went wrong. This awareness is awesome as it allows you to see how you can avoid it next time and how you can improve. But many don’t look at it with a positive light and use it as a reason to give up! A reason to say to themselves, well I might as well not bother. I am never going to do this!
Don’t let that person be you!
The last point is valuable. I have tried so many times to improve areas, things go ok for a while, then it all falls apart and the I say F**K IT! Rather than jack it in, it’s worth looking back and trying again as you are still closer to when you did things well than when you where doing things badly on a constant basis.