Why we give up on resolutions.

Have you ever made a commitment to do something but then not followed through?

I'm sure we all have at some point.

When I go back on a commitment, I tend to get that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. My conscious kicks in and regret comes into play. 

We've probably all experienced that feeling before. One of the most common commitments most of us tend to go back on is the commitment we make once the clock turns midnight on New Years Eve.

Very few people actually stick with their resolutions well beyond the month of January. I'm sure some of us couldn't even list what our past New Year's resolutions even were.

So, why do we do this? Why do we give up on resolutions and commitments that we set for ourselves?

For many of us, we fail to follow through because the resolution or goal we set is far too broad. We set goals like: workout more, get healthy, spend less money, or be happier, etc. Goals that are this broad, though, leave so much room for failure because we do not lay out a specific action plan to achieve the goal. For example, what would you even define as "healthy" if your goal is to get healthy? What do you define as "more" if your goal is to do something more in your life?

Another reason our resolutions tend to get pushed aside is that they are often times unrealistic. We set goals of getting to the gym six times each week when we currently do not go at all. We set a goal of going cold-turkey on a bad habit. These unrealistic expectations most often lead to quitting.

We also give up on our resolutions because they are based off willpower, not a sequenced plan of attack. We make a goal to get healthy, assuming that we will be able to resist the chocolate brownie when it is placed in front of us. Instead of actually writing down an action plan, we are quick to assume mental will power will be enough. 

So, why are we writing about this in the middle of September--many months past the new year?

With it being roughly the third week into September, we'd like you to reflect on how you are doing with your resolution. Did you fall into the trap of setting a goal that was too broad; too unrealistic; or based too much off willpower alone? 

If you have strayed away from your goal, the good news is that IT IS NOT TOO LATE! It is not too late go back and work on your goal--even if you have strayed away from it for awhile. 

Now is the time to re-evaluate where you are at with your goals you set back in January, and if you have abandoned them, see what you can still accomplish in the next few months. It is never to late to start, and (as celebrity trainer Autumn says) if you are tired of starting over, then stop quitting!

Now that the school year is back in full swing, and we are all back into our normal routines and schedules, think of all you can still accomplish and achieve--it's never too late to start up again! We hope you make the necessary steps to do so.

Have a great week!

Dr. Jeff and Jenny Redenius