Blog > New Year's Resolutions > How Many New Year’s Resolutions Fail
Obviously, it becomes quite hard to find out how many of the New Year’s Resolutions fail.
New Year resolutions for many people are an opportunity to make new goals and come up with a new need for change for a better self. However, it is regrettable that most of these resolutions do not survive half of the initial months of the New Year. Studied after studied has revealed that such good intentioned pledges readily fail.
In this article, you will learn more details about the statistics related to such failure, the major causes of such failure, and tips to enhance your chances of a successful outcome in achieving your set resolutions, plus learn more about how you can get help from other tools and resources.
Research done by the University of Scranton indicated that about 9% of people compute their New year’s resolution thus owning up to 91% failure by end year.
The majority of resolutions don’t make it past the first few weeks:
Ever wondered how long those resolutions are actually kept? A study conducted on maintenance of New Year’s resolutions conducted in the Journal of Clinical Psychology revealed that only 46 % of people who set new year’s goal are able to see through until the middle of the year.
Some common types are vaguer than a specific goal, for example, “get fit”, “save money”, that remains undefined and impossible to quantify.
Solution:
We should create the SMART goals which stand for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Example: Stop saying “lose weight” because instead try appoint a goal of “lose 20 pounds in two months.”
External Resource: For more information about developing SMART goals go to MindTools.
Inclusive, objectives such as losing 30 pounds within the first month of the new year will create a sense of frustration and demoralization.
Solution:
It is appropriate to subdivide large goals into several short and achievable goals.
Example: Try getting 5–10 percent lighter or to spend 20 percent less the next time you go to the supermarket instead of planning to go on a ‘crash diet’.
External Resource: Get more information about healthy goal setting for weight loss from Mayo Clinic.
In their rush to make changes, individuals end up failing whenever they leap to the resolution without map.
Solution:
Develop an action plan to fulfil the objectives on how to eliminate the inequality.
Example: Let’s say you plan to have $5,000 saved by the end of 2025, convert them into workable weekly or monthly goals so you can monitor your progress.
External Resource: Employ apps like the Mint in projecting and keeping track of daily/weekly/monthly/annual budget aimed at achieving those resolutions.
If there is no tracking then one loses track of where they are which at most times affects the morale.
Solution:
Journal, application, or platform can successfully store progress and provide an individual reflection on the achievement made.
Example: If your resolution is to read, count the number of books which has been read in a particular month.
Tool: Other platforms, such as Fix My Life AI, have basic tracking and visualization that help you stay on track.
In the absence of consequences, or even motivation, the new year’s resolutions fade out.
Solution:
Talk about your resolutions with someone you trust, with a close one, or find a group of like-minded individuals.
Example: Create a Facebook group for an online fitness club or set up reminder calls once a week to share updates.
External Resource: Search for groups in Meetup or social media such as the Reddit.
The pursuit of success without considering the behaviours inherent in success, most often results in failure.
Solution:
Instead focus on creating a sustainable behavioral change that will correspond to your resolution.
Example: Rather than use the broad New Year’s resolution of saving money, set a specific goal of trying to cook at home more often than eating out.
External Resource: Check the articles on habit formation strategies with James Clear.
It is advisable not to handle a number of resolution at the same time so that one does not get stretched.
Something that has to be done to support motivation is to acknowledge progress.
If possible try to adapt you resolutions depending on the forthcoming events.
You may want to use Fix My Life AI or Strides; they’ll help you be organized and passionate.
Fix My Life AI is a personalized AI platform designed to help you set, track, and achieve your resolutions:
Customizable Goals: When developing your resolutions, avoid grand statements that are hard to measure progress or success, instead break them into more achievable goals.
Vision Boards: Create visions of your goals in order to motivate yourself.
Progress Tracking: Keep an eye on milestones with a single pane of glass.
Daily Motivation: Get cheered and prompted for specific goals.
About one third of people fail to achieve their New Year’s resolutions, however, knowing the widespread causes of such failures and implementing suitable approaches will help to achieve goals. In the article, I found out that having reasonable goals, making a plan, and using the available tools such as Fix My Life AI will transform your resolutions into achievements.
Begin now your journey with Fix My Life AI and make 2025 the change you have always wanted.
Biggest New Year’s Resolution Challenges: How to Stay on Track