New Year, new me - but how long does it last?

Every year we hear it - “New Year, new me.” How many times have you told yourself this? The first of January comes along, and you start your 'new me'. For some, this could be weight loss, for others, it could be a career change. Things may start off well and you feel like you’re gaining momentum. And then, you run into a challenge and it all goes by the wayside. You try your best to recover but for one reason or another, it carries on being the same as it was last year.

Now, for some, the 'New Year, new me' works and I’m not doubting that. A large percentage, however, will find themselves back at the start line before January ends. But why does this happen? And more importantly, how can you set yourself up for long-term success?

Why New Year’s resolutions fail

Here are some common reasons why even the best intentions don’t always lead to lasting change:

1. Lack of resilience

This comes into play when we face challenges. For example, your goal is to lose weight. You have a stressful week at work and your mealtime prep goes out the window. You end up having takeouts and, before you know it, you’re back to square one.

You may not be able to prevent the stress to a certain extent, but a good level of resilience would mean you would swerve the takeouts. Keep reading if you want to know how to build resilience. 

2. Unrealistic goals

You’re simply aiming too big too soon. Many of us need to see results fast otherwise we lose interest quickly.

3. Your 'why' isn’t strong enough

You haven’t spent enough time understanding why these goals are important to you. Your why is your power. It can push you through the most difficult of challenges. 

4. Too much pressure

There is one more thing that can put a dampener on your plans; simply putting too much pressure on yourself ‘to do it for the New Year’. Have you ever tried aiming for these goals at different points of the year instead? I totally understand the thought behind using the New Year as a starting point. However, do you need to save your most important goals for the new year, piling on that pressure? Why not do it in March or July?

How to achieve your goals

I mentioned above that a lack of resilience and unrealistic goals can knock you off track. So here are some ways you can address this. 

1. Use visual/vocal reminders

I’m a big fan of these. Many use vision boards. These can be a simple montage of pictures/phrases that relate to your goal. You can make it look however you like. The key thing here is that, when you look at it, it clearly represents your goals.

So, on those days when you feel life is getting on top of you and you reach for that takeaway menu for a quick comfort boost, you look at your vision board and it reminds you of what you are trying to achieve. This will then plant doubt in your mind about that takeaway. “Will eating this help me achieve my goals?”

It doesn’t just have to be vision boards. Every morning, read your goals out loud. Remind yourself of what you want to achieve. This not only sets you off for a good day, but it will keep those goals in the forefront of your mind.

2. Set realistic goals with checkpoints

Many of us feel like we need to see instant success. If we don’t see a difference in a short space of time, we throw in the towel. This tends to happen when people have big goals. Try breaking these goals down into ‘checkpoints’. Crossing through each checkpoint means you are getting closer to your end goal. It also gives us a feeling of achievement. When we feel like we are achieving something or seeing progress, we feel much more compelled to stick at it. 

3. Strengthen you 'why'

There’s always a reason why we set the goals we set. So when you set your goals, think about why you’re doing it. How will it benefit/change your life? What will it give you?

Then think of any potential pitfalls/challenges. You need to go into this with your eyes wide open. By having an awareness of these things, you can take steps to avoid these issues, further heightening the chances of you achieving your goals. Ultimately, your why is the thing that drives you forward so make sure you’re super clear on this.

4. Get support and stay accountable

With big goals come big challenges. So a strong support system is key. Disclosing your goals to someone you trust can help.

The vast majority of my clients benefit from a structured approach to setting and achieving goals. I’m a firm believer that knowledge is power. The more we know about the journey we face, the easier it will be to get there. Think of a coach as your sat nav. We will help guide you in the right direction but, ultimately, you are the one driving the car so you have full control. 

Being super clear on your ‘why’, and having clarity on any potential challenges and small steps/easy wins are the three core pillars to ensuring you have success. 

Whatever your goal is, preparation, awareness and support is key.