Updated: 11/30/2023
It’s that time of year where many people create a New Year’s resolution. Most resolutions involve some form of dieting, exercise, or weight loss goal. But we don’t always create the most realistic goals to achieve long-term success. Then I began to wonder, how were New Year’s resolutions started?
How it all began
The Babylonians were thought to be the first individuals to celebrate and create the idea of keeping promises and repay their debts in the New Year. Other religious influences involved the Romans and early Christians which helped create the resolutions we have today.
Do New Year’s resolutions really work?
According to research in 2015, only 45% of people created a New Year’s resolution with only 8% succeeding. After about 1 month from creating the goal, only 64% of resolutions had continued. Then it drastically drops after 6 months down to 46% of goals continuing on. In this post, I’ll walk you through on how we can create realistic goals that will last longer than 6 months.
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When creating your New Year’s Resolution, use the mnemonic S.M.A.R.T. Let’s break it down:
Specific
Make your goal as specific as possible. Answer the questions who, what, where, when, and why.
For example, don’t just say, “I will lose weight”. Instead say, “I will lose 20 lbs.”
Measurable
How will you know your goal has been accomplished? How long will you complete a task?
Using the same example above, you can say, “I will lose 20 lbs in 9 months”.
Attainable
Can you see yourself reaching this goal? Will you happy with the results?
Realistic
Are you willing and able to complete this goal? Is it safe to complete your goal?
For example, If you said you will lose 100 lbs in a year, this might not be realistic. Instead, break it down into a smaller goal like 10 lbs in 3 months. If you exceed your goal, that’s just icing on the cake!
Timely
When do you plan to reach your goal? What is your time frame? Usually if you are doing a New Year’s Resolution, it will be for the whole year. But it doesn’t have to be.
By starting out with small goals, it becomes easier to obtain them and allows you to develop healthy habits along the way that will make you successful long-term.
At the end of each nutrition session, I help my clients create 1-3 SMART goals to work on before their next appointment. Interested in working with me 1:1? Schedule a free 30-minute discovery video call today and let’s chat!