Okay, it’s January 21 and I’ll bet you’ve fallen off the wagon when it comes to the New Year’s resolutions you made for 2015. Don’t feel guilty! Most of us haven’t been true to the personal vows we made as we woo hooed our way to an exciting new year.
The most in-depth study I could find on the science of New Year’s resolutions was conducted by researchers at the University of Scranton. It showed a sharp drop off in how long New Year’s resolutions last. Seventy-seven percent of the woo hooers studied, made it through a full week, then 55 percent of those stuck with their goals for a month. Six months later, only 40 percent of those who had made a New Year's resolution were still losing weight or not smoking or being nicer to their kids. I question this research! I don’t know what percentage of those in the study were SHEs (Sidetracked Home Executives) but I’ll bet my nose and both my eyes that they were all BOPs (Born Organized People). If they’d surveyed SHEs, who are genetically disorganized, 75% would have quit in a week instead of hanging on, and by June, 99% would have bit the dust!
Think about it. A genetically disorganized person would NEVER sign up to be in a study like this in the first place. If you’re a SHE you know you love the drama of a grand vow just because it’s more exciting to think big and choose a huge make-over than to say something like, “In 2015 I’m going to keep the laundry off the couch,” or “I’m going to lose five pounds,” or “I’m not going to leave leftovers from restaurants in the car.” (I’ll tell you my resolution and why I’m still sticking to it, later on in this blog.)
So here are the 3 keys I chose that I think can help us with our desire to do better.
Get more sleep
Cut out sugar
Have more fun
Eat more vegetables
Cook more at home
Let go and let God
Walk outside
At the start of each week, re-vow. You don’t have to wait until the clock strikes midnight and throw down a glass of champagne to celebrate your renewed resolve, but you can honor a moment to forgive yourself for your screw up and go forward before that famous WTH Effect sets in.
Polivy, a psychologist, discovered what she termed, the "what the hell" effect. You’ve had it happen when you’ve fallen into temptation and you’ve dived off the wagon with “what the hell” or “screw it,” on your lips as you go down.
Just get up, brush yourself off and start all over again. It’s okay.
It’s time to be selfish about your well-being. Your self-improvement will help everyone, but don’t do it for anyone but you. Think up some secret motto to help you stay true to you.
I’d love to hear what your New Year’s resolution was and what has happened to it. As for me, I’m still right on target with my New Year’s resolution not to smoke a single cigarette in 2015. (Of course I’ve never smoked in my life, and my vow not to for another year really makes me feel so good and want to continue to take good care of myself and that’s really my resolution for this year.)
We all want to turn our lives around in some area, that’s just part of living. The best way to do that is to put yourself back on your To-Do list.
Oprah says, "The journey to take better care of yourself, to honor yourself, to have reverence for yourself, to have harmony with your life, appreciation for your life, to love yourself is a never-ending journey."
Thank you for reading my blog. I hope you’ll share it with someone you love and respect and just may need a little faith lift.
Love,