Reaching New Year’s Resolutions, One Step At A Time

Champagne bottles popping, confetti cascading to the floor, finding a special someone for that 12 a.m. kiss, and figuring out what New Year’s resolution you’re actually going to stick to this year—yes my friends, 2014 is coming to an end.

Traditionally, when January 1, 2015 comes around, it an opportunity to start fresh. The new year gives everyone an opportunity to tackle a bad habit or develop good ones. For instance, as a writer it is always a goal for me to read more books and develop a better vocabulary. Unfortunately this goal is never met, because I am too busy reading textbooks, but this does not mean my goal is impossible.

The reason why New Year’s resolutions are so hard to stick to is because we expect to achieve our goals by the end of January 1, 2015. It is one thing to keep expectations high, but it is another to keep them realistic. Instead of flushing all of your cigarettes down the toilet and making yourself mad, cut your intake by half from your original amount. Eventually you’ll quit and will have achieved your goal of ditching the nasty habit.

When you have an idea in your head, your expectations could have a field day. It is better to tackle smaller goals a day at a time that eventually leads to the larger goal being accomplished.

Same thing goes with diet and exercise, if you cut out cookies, ice cream, and soda your body is going to go into a state of shock. If you restrict your diet to extreme measures, you’re just going to cheat the first chance you get. Instead, try to cut out one unhealthy food or food group. When you no longer have a craving for it, move on to the next challenge.

I wish people could have the “New Year” mentality more often. Within it lies a strong motivational force to be reckoned with. Sadly people only stay committed to their resolutions for about a month, two months if they are lucky. Why?

How can such a strong dedication turn into disappointment? Because we expect immediate results.

Every goal is possible, it just won’t be easy–anything worth having never is.