My daughter recently asked me if it is too late to set a New Year’s Resolution. The question took me by surprise, simply because of the timing; January is passed, and we are now solidly into February. Given that the year has already gotten well underway, I had to think about the question for a bit.
New Year’s resolutions tend not to hold much weight to most. I know I have set many and found that I can stick to them with great energy and resolve for a week, at most. I am not alone, 11% of people have already broken their New Years resolutions, according to a poll by YouGov. (1)
Why, then, is there such an emphasis on this in our culture? The inherent flaw with the New Year’s resolution is the thought that there is something magical about the clock chiming midnight on December 31st. Like Cinderella, midnight chimes and we are transformed. Only in our fairytale, we are transformed into individuals with drive and determination that we did not posses before? The problem with these intentions is very few people are able to drastically change their habits and maintain them, especially overnight. For example, if you haven’t been working out at all, chances are you are not suddenly going to be able to maintain working out five days a week starting January 1st.
As disheartening at it may be, lifestyle changes take time. Losing 60 pounds overnight sounds amazing. Wouldn’t we all love to wake up in our perfect ideal body, eating whatever we wanted without gaining an ounce? However, when weight loss is easy, there may not be a reason to change overall habits. Our habits got us where we are in the first place so they have got to be changed.
Rather than making monumental New Year’s resolutions, I suggest considering making a few small changes. Slow and steady does win the race. Furthermore, psychologically failing at a huge goal chips away at your self –esteem and repeated failure erodes your self -confidence. Succeeding at small goals gives a sense of accomplishment that propels further change. Success breeds success! For example, you could resolve to walk for 10 minutes on your morning break three times a week. That seems a simple thing, almost too small to even bother with. So why, then, should we bother? Even that little bit of movement can help with blood sugar levels, overall energy, and mood. Small changes really can add up huge results over time.
There is no magic bullet when it comes to weight loss and health, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t continue trying to make small, sustainable changes.
My answer to my daughter was the same as what I imagine many people need to hear; it is never to late to make resolutions for healthy changes!
1) https://today.yougov.com/topics/politics/survey-results/daily/2022/02/02/51bc9/1
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