So you want to keep your New Year's resolutions this year?

With the Gregorian calendar clicking over to a new year, many of us are thinking about our New Year's resolutions – those vaguely worded intentions to be a better person in some fashion or other.

For others the top resolutions are losing weight (interesting enough the least achieved resolution), exercise more, quit smoking, save more and to just be better somehow (volunteer, be less grumpy, keep a journal – you know how these go).

What is interesting about the New Year's resolution phenomenon is that a massive majority of people fail to keep their resolution – we're talking here about 88% of people making a promise to themselves that they don't keep.

So why do only 12% of people fulfill on their promises to themselves?

It seems it comes down to some pretty basic brain/body chemistry. The part of our body that regulates will-power is not that strong. When asked to resist temptation it burns up energy, and that energy has to be replaced if we are not to give in .

But there are strategies that are considered successful for dealing with temptation (in terms of resolutions you're trying to keep). The most successful strategy is distraction – whatever you do, don't think about the thing you're trying not to do. Thinking about what you can't do or have just tires you out and leaves you vulnerable to giving in. Instead make sure that whenever the subject of the thing you're trying not to do comes up, that you have an alternative to do or to think about.

If you're dead set on keeping your resolutions this year – and we've got 7 that we think are a good idea coming up this week – then you need to make sure that you include a plan for the following with the resolution itself:

 

1. Make sure that you have definite goals.

2. Acknowledge that you can only make resolutions for yourself – don't include others in them – because ultimately the only person in this universe you have any control over is yourself.

3. Make sure that the goal you set is realistic.

4. Don't try to change the world – moderation is the key.

5. Take the time to know yourself, so that the goal you set is one that you are capable of achieving.

 

Over the new few days we've going to publish the seven New Year's resolutions that we're actively working on. Like our Facebook page to get updates as we publish these over the next few days.