It’s that time of year again and those aspirational New Year’s resolutions are starting to catch up with you. Are you meeting your goals? Are you falling behind? It can be hard to meet your goals, especially if you set a bunch of resolutions. But don’t worry, there’s a way to catch up. Keep reading to find out the main reasons why people fail at their New Year’s resolutions and what you can do to get back on track.
The Most Popular New Year’s Resolutions
So what exactly are people deciding to accomplish in the new year? Let’s take a look at some of the most popular resolutions:
Exercise more
Eat better
Lose weight
Save money
Spend more time with family and friends
Learn a new skill
Why are New Year’s resolutions so popular?
You don’t hear people talking about setting high goals in August - so why is January such a popular time? Well, new beginnings give us the chance to take a blank slate and do whatever we want with it. The new year can also feel stressful because we don’t know what to expect; setting our goals and intentions can make us feel in control of an otherwise new situation. That’s why January and the new year feels like the best time to commit to new goals. However, it’s not always that simple.
Why Do New Year’s Resolutions Fail?
We’ve all heard the saying, “New Year, New Me.” And the new year can seem like the perfect time to set some new goals for yourself and as the new year approaches, it’s the only thing people are talking about. But the truth is that 18% of people fail at their resolutions by January and 41% have given up completely by July. Here are the main reasons why:
You’re being impatient: it might be exciting to decide you’re going to fully kickstart a new routine or lose weight this year, but creating good habits takes a long time. You won’t lose weight (and keep it off) if you try crash dieting or an exercise plan that you’re not used to. With new year’s resolutions, slow and steady wins the race.
You don’t have a support system: even the most thought out and well-designed resolution can fail if you don’t have the right system in place to help you out. There will be times when you need a little push or someone to hold you accountable; try committing to your goals with a friend or partner.
Your resolution is too rigid: trying to commit to seven workouts a week when you haven’t been to the gym in months is setting yourself up for failure. Once you start to miss some (which would be completely normal!), it can be easier to give up altogether. Set realistic goals that you see yourself achieving.
Your resolution is too loose: if your resolution is to “eat healthier,” that’s quite broad. While it’s good to not set any strict goals such as “eat x amount of protein a day,” you do need some guidance to meet your goals.
How to get back on track
Do some of our bullet points feel a little familiar? No worries. Even as January comes to a close, there’s still time to turn it around.
Regroup: first things first, let’s check in on your resolutions. How are they coming along? What’s been working? What hasn’t? Do you know why you’re falling a bit short? Try to get up to date with your resolutions and where you stand; this will help you improve in the coming months.
Plan: Most resolutions get lost in the hustle and bustle of the new year, the return to a routine, and planning for the upcoming year. So try to break down your goals and make them more manageable; this can mean setting weekly or monthly objectives.
Reframe: is there a resolution that’s just not seeming realistic? It happens. It’s easy to lose hope, so try to reframe your goals: is it proving impossible to get to the gym 5 days a week? Try going 3 days and once you’ve established a routine, increase it to 4. Give yourself patience and time to adjust to your new goals.
Reward yourself: it’s tough to take on new challenges and being too hard on yourself can result in decreased motivation and, ultimately, failing to meet your goals. So when you do reach your goal, or even take a step towards it, make sure to reward and praise yourself.
Take on the New Year with Ironhack
Are you looking for a New Year’s resolution that will leave the rest in the dust? We have just the one for you: transform your career and jump into tech with one of Ironhack’s bootcamps:
Web development: learn how to handle the technical design, performance, capacity, speed, and capabilities of website design, from both the front and back ends.
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UX/UI design: interested in finding that sweet spot between coding and design? UX/UI design may be perfect for you.
Cybersecurity: every company needs cyber assistance and as a trained cybersecurity professional, you’ll have a wide range of roles available to you.
Are you ready to revamp your New Year’s resolutions and make 2023 the year you start doing what you love? Whether it's heading to the gym more, spending time with family, or jumping into tech, Ironhack is here to help you make those dreams a reality.
