BDI-International Magazine - Inaugural Issue

and booze on New Year’s Eve. Others start
full of good intentions, but by the end of
January those intentions have waned or
disappeared as real life takes over.
Statistics say that by February, 80% of
people have stopped even trying to keep
their New Year’s resolutions (how these
are compiled remains a mystery). But do
not despair. The year is not over yet; in
fact, it has only just begun, so it isn’t too
late to start working on your goal, unless
your resolution was to do something
within the first few days of the new year.
So take another look at what you were
aiming for, and see if you can still make
it work. Don’t beat yourself up if you truly
can’t manage everything you set out to
do. New Year’s Eve isn’t the only time to
start improving your life; it is an
opportunity, so set new targets that you
can reach and aim for those. Don’t just
look at your goal, but at the road that gets
you there. Find the road blocks and
remove them. Examine the forks on the
road to see which ones are a false start and
carefully choose the best path. Set up
milestones along the way, and don’t look
at how far the finish line is, which might
be discouraging; Stay focused on the next
milestone, then the next.
You will be crossing the finish line before
you even know it!Let’s look at why some
resolutions fail and how to keep them
‘alive and kicking’, to quote the rock band
Simple Minds. It seems that resolutions
fail for a few reasons: one being the drinkinduced
bravado of the celebration on
New Year’s Eve. What seems like a fun
and good idea after numerous glasses of
something considerably stronger than
water often seems pointless and impossible
in the throes of a massive hangover. Not
every resolve to do better is alcohol
induced; but even in abstinence, the
excitement of the moment can influence
a decision that under other circumstances
would not seem as great or important.
Many New Year’s resolutions are made
thinking about what you want to change
for the better, without thinking through
how to do it. “I want to run or walk 10 miles
a day” is a good idea, but if you are working
two jobs, it may not be practical as there
is simply no time to do it. This example
highlights another reason why many
resolutions are not seen through to the
end of the year. However, if you look at
your resolve from a different angle it might
still be possible. Instead of looking at the
10 mile walk as an event, think only of
walking 10 miles a day. You can buy some
sort of pedometer (could be an old-style
step counter, a bracelet, or a phone app)
and count the distance you walk during
a normal day and then see how much more
you need to add. Take the stairs instead
of the elevator; park the car farther away;
get off the bus at an earlier stop. You might
be surprised how much farther you walk
without it taking too much extra time.
Many goals are set so high that achieving
them seems such an impossible feat, so
people give up. To make them seem
attainable, set up several mini goals. For
instance, losing 30 pounds before summer
might seem impossible, but losing at least
one pound a week seems more like
something you could do, and you will not
be far away from your goal of 30 pounds
by summer.
Vague resolutions tend not to work
because they are vague. You might have
an idea of what you hope to achieve, but
unless you make it more specific, it is very
hard to stay on course. Think of the
intention: eat out less often. This is vague.
What is less? Only the person who
expressed this desire knows what it means,
and even then, they may not have an exact
idea. Set a target of only eating out two or
six times a week, depending on how often
you normally do it. If you eat out every
night, then gradually reduce to six, then
to five, and so on. Again, it makes the
target more attainable, plus every time you
manage to reach your goal, you feel better
about yourself. This in turn inspires you
to stay on course.
Phrase your goal in a positive way: “Eat
out less often” and “Eat more often at
home”, sound different, yet the end result
is the same. Positive thinking makes us
more positive, whether we realize it or not,
so try to formulate your resolution is a
positive way. Not only does it make it more
appealing, it encourages you to achieve it.
When it comes to your New Year’s
Resolutions next year, remember how
things went this year and plan accordingly.
Having good intentions is not enough; you
need a plan to achieve your goals. It is
satisfying to be part of the very small
group of people who achieve their New
Year’s resolutions. If you are still on track
to keep all the promises you made, well
done and keep it up!
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