2020 New Year’s Resolution Success Secrets

With the turn from 2019 to 2020 people make personal resolutions. Exercise more! Eat healthier! Save money! Sleep more! Stress less! According to YouGov poll, these are the five most common resolutions. January feels like a new beginning with endless possibilities and pie-in-the-sky goals for 2020. Did you know that on average only 8% of people actually keep their New Year’s resolutions? 

What’s the secret for resolution-setting among 8% of the population?

• Resolutions should be specific and measurable.

For example: Instead of exercise more, quantify it with 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day.

• Resolutions should be challenging, but achievable.

For example: Instead of eating healthier, commit to 5 fruits and/or vegetables every day.

• Resolutions should be inspiring to be motivating.

For example: Instead of saving money, save money for something that you have always wanted, such as an exotic vacation.

• Resolutions should have a timeline or deadline.

For example: Instead of sleeping more and stressing less, set a deadline every day for computer use to cease to allow mental destressing before bedtime.

Don’t expect to change old habits in a day. New habits take at least 66 consecutive days to form. The New Year is a time for all of us to reflect on our past behavior and set goals to make positive lifestyle changes. Don’t get discouraged and give up if you miss a workout, eat a brownie, go on a spending spree, or stay out too late. Just get back on track.

Some extra tips to help you beat the odds of only an 8% resolution success rate:

• Write down your goals and chart your progress to hold yourself accountable.
• Align your actions every day with your written goals.
• Tell your goals to your friends and family to create a support group.
• Break your goals into weekly, monthly or quarterly benchmarks.
• Celebrate successes and be compassionate when you fall short.

Dr. Karen Lawson, director of the Integrative Health Coaching program at the Center for Spirituality & Healing at the University of Minnesota, explains how to set successful goals: “Many people don’t make their own resolutions out of what’s most meaningful and desirable for them but they set it out of what other people told them they need to do out of fear or guilt. So, the motivation doesn’t come from within but comes from the outside and that doesn’t tend to lead to success. Be honest with yourself and figure out what is important and valuable to you so you can set a goal that comes from within.”