Your Resolutions for 2015
For those of us that do make resolutions, the success rate is not very good. Only 8% of those that make resolutions are successful in achieving them. Forty-nine percent have infrequent success, while 24% of those that make resolutions never succeed on their resolutions each year.
In spite of this poor success rate, it is important to point out that people who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions.
The Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions Made in 2014#1 Lost Weight#2 Getting Organized#3 Spend Less, Save More#4 Enjoy Life to the Fullest#5 Staying Fit and Healthy#6 Learn Something Exciting#7 Quit Smoking#8 Help Others in Their Dreams#9 Fall in Love#10 Spend More Time with Family
It seems that the biggest problem people have with resolutions or goals is following through on them. Only 75% of resolutions are maintained through the first week. Sixty-four percent of goals last past one month, and only 46% last past six months.
I have set yearly goals for many years now. I have achieved some goals, while others I have not. Still, I have benefited immensely from the goals I did achieve. Over the past year I have been learning about the concept of creating habits to achieve goals instead of setting goals. There is compelling research and information about the effectiveness of this method by James Clear (JamesClear.com).
The idea is that simple, daily habits – when repeated every day – have a huge impact on our lives. When the habits are easy to do, they are more likely to be completed every day, which improves follow through. These consistent habits lead us to our goals. And, because they are habits, they continue to pay off after the initial goals are attained.
I encourage you to look into this method and to think about creating simple habits in your life instead of setting big goals that may not get accomplished.
I hope you accomplish all of your goals and resolutions for 2015!
To Your Success,
P.S. Three fitness goals I set for myself in 2014 were to complete two triathlons and a marathon. I completed the two triathlons in the fall. My marathon training spilled over into 2015. By the time you read this, I will have completed the Charleston Marathon on Jan. 17th.