{"id":48372,"date":"2022-01-31T09:30:07","date_gmt":"2022-01-31T14:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=48372"},"modified":"2022-01-25T11:19:03","modified_gmt":"2022-01-25T16:19:03","slug":"alternatives-to-new-years-resolutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/alternatives-to-new-years-resolutions\/","title":{"rendered":"Why it\u2019s okay to break your resolutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ahh, there\u2019s nothing like the new year to help get you motivated to set and achieve new goals. In fact, if you make New Year\u2019s resolutions, you\u2019re in good company.<\/span> Nearly a quarter<\/span><\/a> of all American adults intended on making a resolution heading into 2022. But while making resolutions can be a good idea, <\/span>breaking<\/span><\/i> them is sometimes an even better one.\u00a0<\/span>
\nRELATED: <\/b>Abandoned resolutions? Here\u2019s how to get back on track<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Are resolutions destined to fail?<\/span><\/h2>\n

You might have the best of intentions when it comes to setting a goal as the calendar turns to a new year. Most people, however, don\u2019t get too far with their resolutions. The workout app Strava has coined Jan. 19 as \u201cQuitter\u2019s Day,\u201d when they notice a steep drop-off in people training.<\/span> One study<\/span><\/a> found that just 9% of people stuck to all their resolutions in 2019. The most commonly broken resolutions might be ones that you\u2019re thinking about, too: losing weight, saving money, eating healthier, and exercising more. These all sound like great goals in theory. So, why are there so many failed New Year\u2019s resolutions?<\/span><\/p>\n

Lacking tangible steps<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cOne of the reasons people often fail at resolutions is that they approach them in a black and white, and it\u2019s all or nothing,\u201d says<\/span> Ericka Goodwin<\/span><\/a>, MD, a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist. \u201cTheir resolutions are often something big that have complicated or multiple steps to achieve.\u201d But if you haven\u2019t identified what those steps are or how you\u2019re going to conquer them ahead of setting the resolution, she explains, then it\u2019s much harder to figure it out retroactively. So people will look at their resolution, see they haven\u2019t taken a step toward it, and give up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, a broad goal can be a bad New Year\u2019s resolution. For instance, if your goal is to lose weight, but you haven\u2019t broken down that broad resolution into smaller, actionable steps, like \u201cwalk for 30 minutes three times a week\u201d or \u201cadd an extra serving of vegetables each day,\u201d you might take half-hearted steps to lose weight, then get disheartened when the scale hasn\u2019t budged and throw in the towel completely.<\/span><\/p>\n

Taking too much on<\/span><\/h3>\n

Additionally, when it comes to making New Year\u2019s resolutions, you might be biting off more than you can chew. \u201cPeople also fail at keeping their resolutions because they made too many resolutions, and it becomes overwhelming or those resolutions are too challenging to be attained in a single year,\u201d says <\/span>Sam Nabil,<\/span><\/a> MA, a licensed counselor and CEO of Naya Clinics. \u201cHaving unrealistic expectations can result in extra pressure on your part, which will lead to increased stress and anxiety levels.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Most resolutions are hard enough work on their own. Trying to tackle several at a time might be more than you can manage on top of regular life stressors and lead you to quit.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to set better New Year\u2019s resolutions<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re finding that sticking to your New Year\u2019s resolutions is creating additional stress or anxiety in your life, it\u2019s okay to modify or break your resolution. It might even help you create better goals going forward.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe should look at breaking resolutions in another way and regard them as an opportunity to know ourselves a little more,\u201d Nebil says. \u201cFor instance, if you constantly find yourself sneaking carbs despite being on a keto diet, maybe it’s a sign that you’re actually better off with a <\/span>different weight loss plan<\/span><\/a>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Set a smaller goal<\/span><\/h3>\n

Instead of setting one big, overarching New Year\u2019s resolution that can come loaded with pressure, another idea is to set smaller monthly goals to create new habits all related to one larger goal. Sticking with the losing weight example, it might be that in January, you set a goal to find a workout class you enjoy and attend two times a week.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s much more sustainable than telling yourself you\u2019re going to go six days a week. In February, you can add another goal to your toolkit. It might be something as simple as getting eight hours of sleep each night. Instead of one massive resolution, you\u2019re using the year to create habits that you can stick with in a long-term way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Focus on purpose rather than outcome<\/span><\/h3>\n

Another thing that\u2019s helpful, says Nabil, is to focus on your purpose rather than a specific outcome. \u201cLose 20 pounds\u201d is restrictive and you might feel like a failure if you lose only 12. But if your purpose for losing weight is to have more energy to play with your kids, focusing on that instead of the number on the scale can make it easier to see your goal through.<\/span><\/p>\n

Explore alternatives to New Year\u2019s resolutions<\/span><\/h3>\n

There are many ways to make changes in your life that don\u2019t require a lofty goal set on January 1. Try one of these ideas instead of New Year\u2019s resolutions:<\/span><\/p>\n