With the end of 2013 drawing very close and the beginning of 2014 nearly underway, I can’t help but to start thinking of changes I would like to make in my personal and professional life for 2014. Being a self-diagnosed number junky of sorts, this topic got me digging further into the statistics for some brain-enriching material on New Year’s resolutions. I began to wonder how many people make resolutions each year and more importantly, how many people achieve the goals that they sought out to conquer when they made them? I turned my attention mainly to a recently published statistic paper on statisticbrain.com, which itself quotes the University of Scranton Journal of Clinical Psychology. Once again, the Internet has come to my ever-wandering brain’s rescue!
Here are a couple of facts that stuck out in my research:
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45% of Americans usually make New Year’s resolution
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8% of Americans who make a resolution succeed in achieving it
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46% of Americans hold true to their resolution past six months
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47% of resolutions are self-improvement/education related, followed closely (in order of popularity greatest to smallest) by weight related, money related, and relationship related resolutions.
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The ranking of most popular to least popular top ten resolutions were:
- Lose Weight
- Getting Organized
- Spend Less, Save More
- Enjoy Life to the Fullest
- Staying Fit and Healthy
- Learn Something Exciting
- Quit Smoking
- Help Others in Their Dreams
- Fall in Love
- Spend More Time with Family
The main thing that stuck out to me the was the 8% success rate, which amounts to an intimidating 92% failure rate for those “glass half-empty” folks. Let not the numbers fool you into thinking your goal is unattainable thought. Instead use this staggering figure as motivation to be part of that 8% and follow a few simple steps I will provide in the following paragraphs, which will give you a “leg up” in meeting your goals.
When the end of the year draws closer, many people who make resolutions start to panic and think of anything and everything they want to change in their life. This tends to lead up to a list that is too big to accomplish in a lifetime, let alone a year. Keep your goals specific and not too overwhelming to help ensure they are not shooting for the moon! For instance, if you set a goal to lose weight, be specific and set an attainable amount of pounds to shed first. This will not only serve to keep your goal specific and focused, but will also be a motivating catalyst for the possibility of losing even more weight once you have reached your first goal. Similarly, if you make a resolution to work out more, set up a goal of working out a certain number of days a week. This type of model will make sure your goal has a firm foundation to build on for the future. John Norcross of the University of Scranton says, “We say if you can’t measure it, it’s not a very good resolution because vague goals beget vague resolutions.”
Another important thing is “Motivation, motivation, motivation!” No one wants you to succeed more than you and you need to remember that! Turn your ear away from those that whisper negativity to you directly, or even behind your back. Ignore those that may stare awkwardly or direct sneering glances your way. Use their inability to understand your goals as fuel for the fire that you must keep burning within yourself to succeed. It is easy to ride the adrenalin high of a newly set goal, but keeping it alive is another key to being part of that 8% that do succeed. Surround yourself with other like-minded people with the same common goal and lean on them for support when the times get tough.
Follow these simple steps and you too can carve a path to succeed with whatever you choose to resolve in the coming New Year. I wish you all a safe New Year’s Eve and a prosperous and successful 2014!