Mark Twain said, "Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual." Twain's pessimistic outlook on New Year's resolutions is founded in some truth. Many people struggle with keeping the promises they make on December 31, or earlier, for the new year.
According to Jack G. Hardy in the January 4, 2010 Miami Herald article, "New Year's Resolutions are Useful, Even When They Fail," the "resolution tradition dates back to early Babylonians." They believed that what people did on the first day of the year affected what they did for the rest of the year. People now believe that the new year is a chance to start over again or change bad habits.
Statistics Show That Keeping New Year's Resolutions Gets Harder With Time
The Miami Herald article goes on to say that of the 40-45% of people who make New Year's resolutions or goals, only 75% are able to keep their resolutions past the first week. That means that one quarter of people who make New Year's promises do not have enough will power to stay true to themselves for seven days. It seems the second week is a little easier, as 71% of people have not yet broken their resolutions after week two.
By the time it is February, only 64% of people who make New Year's resolutions are still able to keep them, and more than half of people break their promises after six months - 46% of people keep their resolutions for six months or longer.
Why It Is Difficult to Keep New Year's Promises
A psychological study conducted at the University of Hertfordshire in England suggests that of the 78% of people who fail at keeping resolutions, many focus on the downside of not achieving the goals. In other words, many people focus on the "what if I fail?" aspect of making promises rather than the benefits of succeeding.
People who break down their goals into a series of smaller goals have a 35% success rate. Success is more likely if people focus on small, easily achievable goals rather than on daunting, long term goals.
Setting New Year's Goals is Better Than Not Setting Goals
Many people have an intrinsic need to set goals for themselves. According to psychologist, Sally Parker Ross, in Tara Dooley's January 3, 2010 article, "Self-Control Key to Keeping New Year's Resolutions" in The Houston Chronicle, "Instinctively we do know that it is good to choose some new beginning, some fresh start...It is an eternal expression of hope." Even though a large proportion of people who make New Year's promises fail to keep them, having hope is still a good quality.
University of Scranton psychology professor, John Norcross says: "Those who make resolutions are still 10 times more likely to successfully change their behavior than those who do not" (Sadic F. Dingfelder, Monitor on Psychology, January 2004, Vol. 35, No.1). In other words, making resolutions is better than not making resolutions, despite the tendency to fail at keeping them.
Resolutions are Difficult But Worth The Effort
For people who want an excuse to lose weight, quit smoking, save more money, or find a better job, New Year's is a good time to start trying. However, people should be aware that failure is quite possible. Keeping goals small and accepting small set-backs along the way can make New Year's resolutions much more fruitful.
References:
Dingfelder, Sadic F. American Psychological Association: Monitor on Psychology. January, 2004, Vol.35, No.1
Dooley, Tara. The Houston Chronicle. "Self-Control Key to Keeping New Year's Resolutions". January 3, 2010.
Hardy, Jack G. The Miami Herald. "New Year's Resolutions are Useful, Even When They Fail". January 4, 2010.
Sample, Ian. The Guardian. "New Year's Resolutions Doomed to Failure, Say Psychologists". December 28, 2009.
Josh Grant - Having written for newspapers since the year 2000, journalism is just one form of writing that Josh is passionate about. He has a ...
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