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How many people see their New Year resolutions through

Here we are in the new year. I bet you made some resolutions or even have them on your mind, but how many have you completed over the years? I hear it too frequently that a New Year’s resolution is underway, and they will accomplish it this time because the last few attempts were mere practice runs leading up to this moment. They can sense that this year is different like no other year before it. There is a newfound motivation within them that was never present before. Never mind that this was the same glorious speech as last year.

We must face reality when considering our grand New Year’s resolutions. So before setting any, you should have a gander about the following statistics. Of the people who set New Year’s resolutions, only 9% stick to them throughout the year (Allen, no date). You might do a double take on that percentage, but I can assure you that your eyes do not deceive you. Yes! Those who keep to their resolutions throughout the year are in the minority.

Why is the success rate so low? There are many reasons for this, and one of them is a lack of commitment/dedication. People make resolutions without the tiniest consideration for the amount of discipline it takes to stick to these resolutions. For example, some want to lose weight and become fit during the process but fail to consider how much effort is required to exercise, and after a few days of running, they give up because it is too challenging and painful. Yes, when you cannot motivate yourself to get out of bed and go for a run, you cannot wait for someone else to come along and force you into doing it! The motivation must come from you! Some resolutions are too lofty and ambitious, like quitting something cold turkey, which is the least successful method for terminating something addictive. Memory can also be an issue, like forgetting what your New Year’s resolutions were in the first place. Trust me, people, I cannot make this stuff up, even if I wanted to. Even though we have had paper for well over 2000 years now, some choose not to use it.

How do we successfully see those New Year’s resolutions through? I am glad you asked. Here are the following strategies you can implement to help with your resolutions (Cultivating Health, 2023):

Quality over quantity – it is best to directly focus on one or two goals instead of trying to spread yourself over many. Focus on a few and give it your all.
Draft a plan – consider how long your resolution will take to accomplish and the resources you need, and plan for how you will see it through.
Be specific about your goals – it is fantastic deciding to learn another language, but you must be precise about the language you want to learn and how much time you will be learning.
Make it a daily habit – to form a habit, you must spend slightly over two months working at it, and I would say daily for good measure.

Do these actually work, Gino? Of course, they apply to setting any goal in life. Have you accomplished any New Year’s resolutions yourself, Gino? My friend, do not kid yourself! I have never drafted a single New Year’s resolution in my entire life because I have never needed to wait for the new year before implementing changes in my life. Take that to heart and walk away with the idea that you should never have to wait for the new year before deciding to change yourself. If you want to change, then start changing now! Do not wait, and do not procrastinate!