Anthonia Soyingbe / Senor Reporter
Waoh! Just like that, we have finally arrived at the much awaited and anticipated wonder year 2015. In case you are still to believe this is for real, perhaps we should start by congratulating ourselves and say a very loud HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Remember some fifteen years ago, the whole world came together to make a resolution to ensure 2015 becomes a wonderful year where poverty, sickness, maternal and child death among others would have become almost history. Yeah, talking about the Millennium Development Goals! Well, that would certainly be a topic for discussion some other time.
Happy New Year
As today marks the first day of another year, it is often customary for many to begin the year by unveiling their new goals and targets after taking stock of what the past year had offered.
Understandably however, setting the right type of New Year’s resolution is not a day’s job. A lot of people have been known to make realistic and unrealistic resolutions simply because the desire to make commitments is often not strong. It has been found that resolutions are easier to make than to keep.
Why is this often so?
Have you stopped to ask yourself- why did I not achieve the goals that were set in the past? Have you really learnt something from your failed endeavours in year 2014 for instance?
It is never too late to start again. You have the opportunity to make it right this time. In this New Year, think about new goals you want to achieve in your life because aside the celebration which accompanies seeing a New Year, we have new opportunities to make new changes in our lives.
In making New year resolutions , it is very important to have the right mind-set, select resolutions, quantifying the resolution, set immediate milestones, set the tracking too and abandon or preserve the tough decisions.
Success rate recent research shows that while 52% of participants in a resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals.
A separate study in 2007 by Richard Wiseman from the University of Bristol showed that 78% of those who set New Year resolutions fail, and those who succeed have five traits in common. Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, a system where small measurable goals are being set; such as, a pound a week, instead of saying “lose weight”, while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends.
During the first few days of making a New Year’s Resolution, you will probably feel confident and highly motivated to reach your goal. This is because you haven’t really faced any discomfort or temptation associated with changing your behaviour. This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as advantageous. A New Year’s Resolution is generally a goal someone sets out to accomplish in the coming year. Some examples include resolutions to donate to the poor more often, to be more Godly, to become more assertive, or to become more environmentally responsible. A key element to a New Year’s Resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year, and new beginnings.
Undoubtedly many find it hard to keep their resolutions because of addiction to a particular habit. In making Resolutions, many according to Yomi Martins don’t choose realistic goals. It is advisable to choose realistic goals. Also one doesn’t need to wait till weeks in 2015 before you start practicing your resolutions. Martins suggested that one should spend some time planning out how you will tackle a major behavior change. “You can start by writing down your goal, making a list of things you might do to achieve that goal and noting any obstacles that might stand in your way.
“Those unhealthy habits that you are trying to change probably took years to develop, so how can you expect to change them in just a matter of days, weeks or months? It may take longer than you would like to achieve your goals, but remember that this is not a race to the finish. Once you have made the commitment to changing behavior, it is something that you will continue to work on for the rest of your life”, opined Martins.
Juliet Ugochukwu a Physiologist when asked if she makes New Year Resolutions said, “Every year I make New Year’s resolutions, and I am dedicated to making them come true in the 12 months allotted. Sometimes I make it; sometimes I don’t. However, I believe that it’s always worth trying.”
How best can one make realistic New Year resolutions and keep them?
According to Elijah Adelowore a Lagos based life coach, “ reflecting on mistakes and mishap of previous years is a good way to start when making such resolutions and commitments.
“Reflecting on the mistakes and mishaps of last year is a good place to start when making New Year’s resolutions. Where could you have done better? What do you want to see change? No need to be down on yourself. Just take a look at your weak points and see what you can do about them this year.
“Describe your resolutions in specific terms. Instead of “I don’t want to be lazy,” opt for “I want to exercise regularly” or “I will cut down on my television watching.” Break down large goals into smaller ones. For instance, commit to losing weight by resolving to join a gym and improve your eating habits. Find alternatives to a behavior that you want to change, and make this part of your resolution plan. So you want to quit smoking but you smoked to relax yourself? What other forms of relaxation are available to you? Above all, aim for things that are truly important to you, not what you think you ought to do or what others expect of you,” Adelowore said.
Another good and easy way of keeping of keeping to your resolutions is by writing them out. This takes your resolutions from being just an idea to a being real. There are a lot of ways to do this. You can use a planner or a calendar. You can type it out on your laptop or write it down on a piece of paper. Just make sure it’s written and in a place where you can see it and refer to it often.
Be realistic by setting achievable goals so as to achieve all you have set for yourself in 2015. Wish you achievable resolutions in 2015.
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