9 reasons you won’t keep your resolution (& how to fix it)!

Will you keep your New Year’s resolution this time?

It’s January 1st, you’ve set your new year’s resolution and you’re more determined than ever to achieve it. So what if it didn’t quite work out for you last year, or the one before that, because this year’s different right?

This year is YOUR year!

Um….well….hate to break it to you pal, but no. Probably not.

By February you’ll be back stuffing your face with chocolate and skipping the gym. Your home will not be the  organised haven you dreamt of and you’ll be sneaking a cheeky ciggy out of the bathroom window.

Depressingly, 92% of people do not achieve their New Year’s resolutions according to Forbes.

But wait!

Before you click that x on my website and think I’m the most negative, demotivating blogger out there. Let me assure you, that’s not the case at all.

I want you to succeed, I really do! 

So dusting off my Psychology degree from several years ago, here are my thoughts on why people don’t keep their New Year’s resolution, how to avoid those pitfalls, stay motivated and achieve your goals this year.  

9 reasons you won’t keep your resolution & how to fix them!

1# Time frame is too long

If you had to write an essay, to be submitted in a year’s time, would you start writing it now? Or would you leave it thinking you have plenty of time and let’s face it probably forget about it and then write it in a panicked frenzy at the end of December. 365 days is a long time to stay focused and you’ll need to break it down in to clear, measurable, bite-sized goals for each month.    

Fix it by: setting clear monthly mini goals that will contribute to your overall resolution. 

2# The resolution is unrealistic

Are you trying to achieve something that’s actually possible or are you setting yourself up for failure? If your idea of excercise is walking from the car to the supermarket, probably don’t plan to run a marathon. Start with a 5K run instead! That’s still a fantastic achievement. And maybe in the future you could run the marathon. 

Fix it by: Scaling it back! Be honest with yourself about what is achievable. 

3# It’s not affordable 

Do you have the funds available to support your resolution? Can you afford a gym membership/fancy ingredients/to travel more?  

Fix it by: anticipate what cost implications of your resolution will be and either adapt to suit your budget or consider how you could save money in other areas or make extra money to support this. 

4# You have nobody to answer to.

Sometimes you have the best of intentions, but who’s honestly going to care if you eat that slice of cake or have a sly cigarette? Nobody will ever know except you.

Fix it by: having an accountability buddy. Ask your partner, bestie, family member (whoever isn’t afraid to call you out on your bullshit), to ask you on an annoyingly frequent basis how you’re getting on with your monthly goals. That should do it. 

5# It gets boring

Sometimes you just get bored with your goals, especially seeing as many resolutions involve giving up something you enjoy like cake or smoking or time relaxing on the sofa watching netflix.

Fix it by: rewarding yourself each month if you achieve your monthly goals. Go out for dinner, get a manicure, buy that nice top you’ve had your eye on. Giving yourself an incentive will keep you going through the tough times. 

 Click to grab free New Year’s resolution planning worksheets

6# You lose motivation 

Throughout the year you will go through peaks and troughs in motivation, that’s completely natural. Be prepared for it. While you’re feeling motivated, write down 5 reason why this is your resolution and 5 benefits of sticking to it. Keep that list somewhere handy.

Fix it by: Every time you feel demotivated, re-read your reasons for setting yourself this goal and the benefits of achieving them. It should help you to refocus and remind you why you set this goal in the first place.

7# Your priorities change

Sometimes life gets in the way of achieving our goals, your personal situation changes, you get an injury, somebody needs your help and you have less time. Hey, that’s ok! You can be flexible.

Fix it by: being adaptable. These resolutions are not set in stone! Who says that you can’t refocus your goals half way through the year? Don’t be afraid to change your goals based on your situation. The rules are – there are no rules. Oh and don’t talk about resolutions club.  

8# You’re not doing it for yourself  

Think about why you’re doing this. Is it really what YOU want? Or is it actually what somebody else wants for you? You need to be 100% committed and that really isn’t possible if it’s not what you really want.

Fix it by: Setting yourself a goal, just for you that you genuinely want to achieve.  

9# You aren’t organised 

Fail to plan, plan to fail. As a perpetual list maker and a former event organiser, I live by this annoying, clichéd motto. No matter how much you want something, it isn’t enough. You need to think how you’re actually going to achieve it and what you will need. 

Fix it by: Making a list of everything you need to achieve your resolution, things to buy, things to do and when you need to them by. Then do those things.

Follow these tips and you’ll be one step closer to achieving your resolution! 

I’ve created some New Year’s resolution worksheets to help you answer the what, when, how and why’s and plan your monthly mini goals.

While you’re feeling super motivated, download and fill it out right now. Carpe diem and all that.

Go get em tiger!

In case you’re wondering, do I have a resolution? I sure do! It’s possibly my most dullest resolution ever. To clean out all the cupboards and draws in our house and organise the hell out of them. I did warn you, not glamorous or exciting! But perhaps I will spend less time frantically hunting for things I’ve shoved in a draw somewhere.

Don’t forget to let me know in the comments what your resolution is.  

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