We all know what resolutions are. Most of us made a few for New Years. Afterall, a new year means a fresh start, right? So why does everyone have trouble keeping them? Maybe the resolutions, and goals in general, that people make for themselves are just plain impossible.
When setting goals, we need to think about our abilities. After all, everone has different physical, emotional, and mental limitations. Lets start with one of the most common resolutions, weight loss. Maybe someone wants to lose 20 lbs, and they plan to do this by cutting out sweets for three whole months. That means absolutely no sweets. Well, if this person eats cakes and cookies every day after dinner, this goal is very unreasonable. Not only is the person deprivin his/her body of something that everyone needs once in a while, he/she's also breaking a habit. The resolution will mostly likely not be kept. Within a week or two, a cookie will be devoured by a stressed out dieter, and the resolution has just been broken.
Wouldn't it make sense to make a more reasonable solution to start off? How about eating sweets four nights a week instead of seven, and then, three nights a week, then two. This would be easier to achieve, and it wouldn't discourage the person setting the goal, it's very doable.
Setting reasonable goals is the first step to keeping New Years resolutions.
-Note:This is not a weight-loss blog. It's just the emample of a goal that I used.
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OH! This is so true. Not only is it easier to keep them, but if you set goals that are more easily attainable, it boosts your confidence when you actually achieve them!
I agree with you on the topic of setting realistic goals. Too many times, in moderation of eating and otherwise, complete self-denial just leads to discouragement. I don't believe in resolutions, but I do believe in setting positive, achievable goals.
xoxo
Although I do think one should set reasonable goals, I have to disagree with your example. I have little willpower, so it's easier for me to go cold-turkey than to have fewer sweets or whatever, because once I start I keep eating. Not a lot easier, but giving things up never is.