Small Resolutions May Be Easier to Keep

Approximately 93 percent of people set new year’s resolutions, yet only 8-9 percent actually achieve them. Despite not following-through on resolutions, making them is still much better than forgoing them entirely, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology. The study found that those who set resolutions are 10 times more likely to alter their behavior than others who don’t.1

Why is it so hard for these new behaviors to become habits and part of daily life?  It is because the new desired behaviors require a significant amount of change, which individuals try to make all the necessary changes at one time.  It is hard to stick with behavior change that is drastic. Far too often, individuals are motivated to make changes to improve their health, but frustration and feelings of being overwhelmed by drastic changes creep up and get in the way.2

Focus on making small realistic changes that you feel confident about.  Small changes are easier to make into habits. One popular idea is that it takes about 21 days to solidify a habit, but this seems to be more myth than truth.  A hallmark 2009 study on habit creation found that habits developed in a range of 18 to 254 days; participants reported taking an average of about 66 days to reliably incorporate one of three new daily activities—eating a piece of fruit with lunch, drinking a bottle of water with lunch or running for 15 minutes before dinner. Consistent daily repetition was the biggest factor influencing whether a behavior would become part of an automatic daily routine.3

Small resolutions are based on the concept of taking baby steps. You can’t run successfully without learning how to walk steadily first. In the same way, small resolutions are less overwhelming and intimidating, so you are more likely to stick to them. Once you create a good habit, you can then incorporate more behaviors that develop into an increasingly active and healthy lifestyle.

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1 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-set-new-years-resolutions-you-can-actually-keep-dan-schawbel/

2 https://healthypennstate.psu.edu/2017/01/10/new-years-resolutions-are-hard-to-keep-think-small/

3 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-long-does-it-really-take-to-form-a-habit/