Every year, millions of people make New Year’s Resolutions with the hopes of enacting good, sustainable life change. Be it they want to get in the gym more, read more, or achieve specific goals at work. And while many people are successful, a staggering number of folks… are not. 

According to this article, featuring a whole heap of statistics around New Year’s Resolutions, “of those who make a New Year’s resolution, after 1 week 75% are still successful in keeping it. After two weeks, the number drops to 71%. After 1 month, the number drops again to 64%. And after 6 months, less than 50% of people who make a resolution are still successful in keeping it.”

So what gives? Why can’t people make New Year’s Resolutions stick? 

New year’s resolutions often fail because people set unrealistic goals for themselves. This can lead to feelings of frustration and disappointment when they are unable to achieve what they have set out to do. Additionally, people often have trouble sticking to their resolutions because they lack motivation or a clear plan for how to achieve their goals.

Another reason why new year’s resolutions fail is that people often try to make too many changes at once. This can be overwhelming and can lead to burnout, making it difficult to stick to their resolutions in the long term.

To increase the chances of success, there are a few goal setting strategies people can employ. 

• First, it is important to set specific and achievable goals. This means being realistic about what can be accomplished in a given time frame, and breaking larger goals down into smaller, more manageable tasks.
• Second, it is important to have a clear plan for how to achieve your goals. This may involve setting specific deadlines, breaking your goals down into smaller steps, and creating a schedule for when each step will be completed.
• Third, it is important to have a system in place for tracking progress and holding yourself accountable. This could involve setting up regular check-ins with a friend or family member, or keeping a journal to document your progress.

Overall, the key to achieving new year’s resolutions (and to avoid becoming a failing statistic)  is to set realistic goals, have a clear plan for how to achieve them, and hold yourself accountable along the way. By taking these steps, you can increase your chances of success and see your resolutions through to the end!