This Year Make Realistic New Year’s Resolutions

Everyone is setting extremely high goals for the new year, but those usually end up in disappointment. If you want this year to be different than the previous ones, this year make realistic New Year’s resolutions.

A research made last year revealed that 37% of the people wanted to be healthy and fit, while 32% wanted to lose weight. The research also revealed that only 16% of the people that participated in the research didn’t make any resolutions, leaving thus more than 80% of people who made resolutions. According to a clinical psychologist, Doctor Pauline Wallin, making resolutions slowly became a tradition.

The constant need for improvement and change is heightened at the beginning of every new year and that didn’t pass unnoticed by the gyms and stores. Foodstores that promoted peanut butter and candy last month are now advertising vegetables, fruits and yoghurts. Also, gyms and fitness centers offer good promotions in the first weeks of the new year.

According to Dr. Wallin, it is easy for people to see themselves going through the changes they picture in their minds, but unfortunately they often underestimate how much effort needs to be put in order to accomplish them. If for example your resolution includes losing weight, then it will be easier at first. That is because with all the holiday eating, you are still feeling bloated. But after that short period of time passes and you start to feel hungry really quickly, you tend to go from fresh vegetables to hamburgers at the nearest McDonald’s.

Doctor Joseph Ferrari explained the need to set new resolutions each year. He said that by making these resolutions, we hope to achieve the things we couldn’t in the past year. Ferrari said that making unrealistic goals creates the boomerang effect. For example, you have your prom coming up and you say that you’ll lose 30 pounds until then. 30 pounds is a lot to lose in a six month period. Set yourself this goal for the next year or the next year and a half and the chances that you’ll succeed are way higher than if you put in mind to do it in the next months.  Long term deadlines are another way through which you will achieve resolutions. You and your body need adjustment time.

A study conducted by the psychologist John Norcross showed that 15% of the people who made resolutions, gave up in the first two weeks of the new year. After two years, he repeated the study and discovered that only 19% of the people stuck and achieved their goals. This year, make realistic New Year’s resolutions and you’ll most probably succeed.

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