Why Do 80% of People Give Up On New Year's Resolutions?

Did you know that 80% of people abandon their New Year’s resolutions within the first one or two months of the year?

If you’ve ever been a regular attendee at the gym during January and February, you will have noticed how there seems to be a surge in gym-goers at the start of the year. By mid-February, many new gym members have disappeared after giving up on their New Year’s health and fitness goals.

Why is it that only 20% of people stick to their resolutions? What causes most of us to fail?

One of the most common reasons we give up is that we set unrealistic goals. If you set a goal that is almost impossible to reach, you’re probably not going to reach it. And even if you do, the results are usually unsustainable.

For example, if you set yourself a goal to lose weight, you need to consider what a reasonable amount of weight loss is before you set your goal. If you aim to lose an unrealistic amount of weight, you might start to over-exercise or severely under-eat to reach this goal. Neither of these behaviors is enjoyable, healthy or sustainable in the long term.

This leads to another reason why 80% of people give up on their New Year’s resolutions. They make too many changes all at once, and many of these changes are too big.

When you have a goal, it usually involves making changes in your life, whether it’s to lose weight or get fit. If you make several large changes in one go, things can become difficult and overwhelming very quickly. This can make your goal seem impossible to reach, and, as a result, you quit after just a few weeks.

If you want to become part of the 20% that stick to their New Year's resolutions, here are some suggestions for what you need to do:

• Create realistic resolutions and long-term goals. Set SMART goals.
• Make small, actionable changes that you can sustain for years to come.
• Attach an emotion to your resolution. Think about why you want to reach this goal in the first place.
• Remind yourself of the benefits of reaching this goal. For example, you will become healthier, or you will have the energy to keep up with your family.