I am half listening to the television this morning. The news anchors did a segment on New Years Resolutions. They interviewed six or seven people about what/if any New Years resolutions they have. One person was holding a cigarette saying that he wanted to give these up, (as he pointed to his cigarette). Another person said they would like to eat healthier, another said be better with their finances, another said get out of debt.
Any of these sound familiar? Maybe you have some of these same New Years Resolutions. Some people hate on the words: New Years Resolutions. I can understand why they do, because there is a such a negative stigma around those words anymore with failure that it isn’t even credible.
According to the University of Scranton. Journal of Clinical Psychology published January 1, 2014. http://www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/ the top 10 New Years resolutions are:
- 1. Lose Weight
- 2. Getting Organized
- 3. Spend Less, Save More
- 4. Enjoy Life to the Fullest
- 5. Staying Fit and Healthy
- 6. Learn Something Exciting
- 7. Quit Smoking
- 8. Help Others in Their Dreams
- 9. Fall in Love
- 10. Spend More Time with Family
Any of these look like yours? Also, in this research was the real numbers on New Years Resolutions success rates:
Percent of Americans who usually make New Year’s Resolutions: 45%
Percent of Americans who infrequently make New Year’s Resolutions: 17%
Percent of Americans who absolutely never make New Year’s Resolutions: 38%
Percent of people who are successful in achieving their resolution: 8%
Percent who have infrequent success: 49%
Percent who never succeed and fail on their resolution each year: 24%
Lastly, and most important is this. The data on how long New Years Resolutions last:
- Resolution maintained through first week 75%
- Past two weeks 71%
- Past one month 64%
- Past six months 46%
Pretty interesting data isn’t it? I think so. Here is what I see, you tell me what you see. Only 45% of the population make New years resolutions. Call them what you want, goals, commitments, you name it, but only 45% of the population do this. Then of this 45% of the population who do make New Years Resolutions, only 46% keep it going past the six month mark. So that means if we use 100% as a number of the population, and 45% make new years resolutions, and of that 45% only 46% keep it going after six months, that means about 23% or so of the population actually can make a commitment and stick to it. That is what is amazing to me.
Oh yeah: Here is the final interesting statistics:
- Percent of people in their twenties who achieve their resolution each year 39%
- Percent of people over 50 who achieve their resolution each year 14%
I’ll let you tell me what you think about the numbers on how age plays a part in the success rate of New Years Resolutions.
So what do you to ensure your New Years Resolutions become habits and become a part of what you do everyday this year and future years:
Intent: Your intent is what you would like to do. It starts here. The first step is knowing what you should or would like to do.
Motive: Your motive is “WHY” you want to do this. It can be a lot of different things, but it should be a deep desire related to a deep emotion within that is so compelling that nothing can stop you from achieving your New Years Resolutions or goals.
Agenda: What are you going to do everyday? This is where the intent and motive are now put into action. What kind of tasks or things will you do everyday to ensure you keep your New Years Resolution. Your success is determined by your daily agenda.
Behavior: How are you going to act to ensure you accomplish your goals. Sure you have a great goal, your motive can be strong, you have established the right agenda, but you don’t change some of your behaviors such as going outside on your breaks at work with the other smokers, or you still binge eat on the weekends, you don’t create a budget for your finances, or other kinds of behaviors that prevent you from keeping your commitments.
The thing about New Years that I like, is it truly is a new season. It just makes sense to make some new goals and commitments at this time. Is it the only time you can do this? Absolutely not, I would encourage you to always raise the bar and establish goals and commitments, and this time of the year is as good as any. However, don’t be that person, that makes New Years Resolutions that people laugh at because they know you have done it before, and haven’t kept them. Let’s be honest the stats are not in your favor to begin with.
If you want a proven success plan that I have seen work for many people, then reach out to me via thebrianwillett.com and let’s make a plan together. I am meeting with people currently at a reduced rate of $100 an hour. That one hour could change your life? Would that be worth $100?
To your success and your future.
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