Why New Years Resolutions Fail & How To Succeed

TL;DR

New Year's resolutions fail because people often set unrealistic goals and rely on willpower. To succeed, start with small and specific targets, write down goals, and create an environment that supports positive choices.

Transcript

Most New Year's resolutions fail. So in this video I want to talk about the science of why they fail and how to avoid that so your New Year's resolutions actually succeed and I want to tell you about three of my New Year's resolutions for 2020. The first one is to stop going to news websites I find I kill a ton of time by doing that Now don't get m... Read More

Key Insights

• 💄 Making resolutions at New Year's increases the chances of sticking to them.
• 😫 Setting small and specific targets is more effective than setting big goals.
• 🥅 Writing down goals increases the likelihood of achieving them.
• 🪡 Changing environments can support positive choices and reduce the need for willpower.
• ❓ Relying solely on willpower is not an effective strategy for maintaining resolutions.
• 🥺 Small daily habits can lead to compounding effects over time.
• 👣 Tracking progress visually can increase motivation and accountability.
• 🤩 Avoiding distractions and optimizing productivity are key to successful resolutions.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why do most New Year's resolutions fail?

Most resolutions fail because people set unrealistic goals and rely too much on willpower, which is a finite resource.

Q: How can small targets help with achieving resolutions?

Starting with small targets that can be achieved consistently, like running for just two minutes a day, allows for a minimum amount of effort that can be built upon over time.

Q: Why is it important to write down goals?

Writing down goals makes them more specific and increases the likelihood of achieving them. People who write down their goals are 40% more likely to achieve them.

Q: How can changing environments support successful resolutions?

By structuring environments to make better choices, such as putting healthy snacks in plain sight and removing social media apps from phones, individuals can avoid relying solely on willpower.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Research shows that making resolutions at New Year's increases the likelihood of sticking to them.

• Only 8% of people can stick with their resolutions through the end of the year.

• The misconception is thinking that big efforts are necessary for significant life changes.