A recent Quirkology study (LOL!) found that most people who made New Year’s resolutions didn’t accomplish them. While a full 52% of the participants were sure they’d succeed, only 12% of them actually did!
Men were able to increase their odds of success by 22% when they engaged in goal setting, a system where small measurable goals are set (lose a pound a week, instead of saying “lose weight”), while women increased their rate of success by 10% when they made their goals public and got support and encouragement from friends and family. 🙂
Hmm…
I haven’t decided on my New Year’s resolution yet, but I’ve started a list to help me narrow ’em down. The research also shows that people do better when they plan ahead and focus on just one resolution at a time.
Women — How to keep your New Year’s resolutions
Go public
. Most women keep their resolutions to themselves, but that makes ’em easy to forget. Instead, go public. Immortalize them in print on huge pieces of paper, and post them like signs all over your house. Tell your friends and family what you’re trying to achieve, and ask them to pick you up if/when you stumble.
Be persistent. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don’t beat up on yourself if you fall off the wagon once or twice. Old habits die hard. Remember that everyone messes up from time to time. Keep the goal in sight and your eye on the prize, even when you falter.
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Karen
I said other. In my eyes, having a resolution is sort of setting yourself up for failure. After all, it’s the big joke that no one actually does any of their resolutions for too long.
Instead, I just like to think about what I want and how I want to change for the better. I have a lot of things in mind for 2009. 🙂 I just don’t call them resolutions.
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I have a couple goals I am trying to work on…
1) Go to the university gym on a regular basis. I have a very high metabolism so I look like I’m in shape but I don’t feel healthy… a couple of girls in my grad program are planning on joining classes together!
2) I am fluent in another language but cannot read and write, I am planning on teaching myself over the next term. I may enlist the help of my parents.
3) Buckle down and actually write the stupid GRE exam again, this thing is my freakin’ Everest.
I never make a New Year’s resolution because I never keep them.
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I half-ass make them and never stick to them. I think it’s a good idea to make small goals for yourself throughout the year otherwise you will be doomed. The gym at my work is PACKED in Jan and by Feb it’s dead again. I think most people give up, sadly!
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Karen-
I said other because I don’t make them…ever. I have and I just can’t stick with it. Instead I wait for Lent and give up something cuz I always stick with that when I have the threat of God smiting me if I disobey!
no resolution for me. they don’t work but only add guilty. 😛
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I used to make them faithfully year after year but got depressed that I never got around to any! So I stopped (bahhh) and now I just try to get small shorter-term goals done instead.
I do have one resolution this year though: to stay the heck away from my-best-guyfriend-who-almost-became-my-boyfriend-but-dumped-me-before-anything-got-started. Got all that? haha. Apparently, as I’ve just learned this weekend, not only is he not “physically or emotionally attracted” to me (ouchies..), he thinks we’re too different for a close relationship to form (double ouchies). Some friend eh? To think I actually contemplated marrying him one day if things worked out… let’s go 2009! I’m ready for a fresh start – with or without him. 😕
Hey Karen!
Wow I’m actually surprised at the response to this question, but then again I guess it depends on what the resolution is right? The thing I decided to do this year is start earlier than new years (October). I made sure that it was a lifestyle enhancement rather than a “resolution”.
Sometimes it’s all in the label and I’m no good w/ labels!
I never make resolutions – I figure if I stop a bad habit or take up a good one then it’s like a surprise! Resolutions never work for me!