How are your resolutions going?

Try again

When you think about it, January isn’t really the best time to start your resolutions and goals.

While it’s great to take advantage of the natural boost in energy that most people feel around that time of year, there are many other reasons that trying to be more virtuous at the very start of the year is doomed to fail.

The most common resolutions focus on getting healthier – losing weight, quitting smoking, going to the gym ... you know the drill.

But early January is a time when your cupboards are still full of boxes of chocolates and other treats given to you at Christmas, and your calendar is probably packed with parties and other social gatherings where chips and cream-filled canapes will practically be thrown down your throat.

There’s also the stress of being extra-busy with a calendar that’s so full of events, meaning you’re more likely to skip the gym and inhale a quick pseudo-meal before dashing out the door. Plus, you’ll probably have a few hangovers to deal with and it’s too darn hot to go for a run.

If you’re going to fail at overhauling your diet or exercise routine, January is probably the most likely time for it to happen. See? It’s totally understandable that you haven’t gotten started yet.

The good news is that the silly season is now over, and if you want to have another crack at your resolutions, there’s nothing stopping you from trying again. Now that you’re back into your normal routine, it’ll be easier to find realistic ways to build new habits and changes into your life. 

Change your strategy

A year is a long time, right? So long that it’s kind of hard to take a year-long goal seriously (yep, it’s not just you).

If you tend to make resolutions at the start of the year and then not really think about it again until December, a shorter timeframe could help you stick with your plans.

Laura Vanderkam, author of ‘168 hours: You have more time than you think’, recommends creating quarterly goals instead of year-long ones. It’s enough time for you to really achieve something important and significant to you, but short enough that you need to think about concrete ways to start working towards your goal pretty much straight away. She also points out that it allows you to tackle more goals in a year, without spreading yourself too thin at any one time.

Be honest

Do you really want to make the change you said you’d make? Ask yourself if you’re ready to make the change and whether it’s something important enough to you that it’s worth the effort.

For instance, if you say you’re going to go to the gym regularly but you actually hate the gym, it’s not likely you’ll be able to keep it up. Instead, try to find an alternative that you don't actively hate.

If it's something you can't avoid (such as if you hate going to bed but you need to get more sleep), then this won't apply, but in most cases there's more than one way to get healthy. Make it easy on yourself and choose the option that most appeals to you.

Try to choose goals that are meaningful to you, where you truly see the value in following through. Different people will have different motivations, even for the same goal. For example, if you want to get fit you might find that you most want to have the energy to live your life to the full, or perhaps what you really value is staying healthy when everyone else is falling victim to the cold that's doing the rounds at the office.

Having a good reason for going for your goal is a powerful motivator. That way, when you don't feel like going for a run you can remind yourself why it's worth the effort.

If you're beating yourself up over not achieving your resolutions, check out our guide to healthy goal setting.