New Year's Resolution
& reaching your goals
MOTIVATION
I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are ready for the new year. An essential part of this is making good resolutions. Accordingly, in this blog, I will present you with some interesting statistics and tips for achieving your resolutions. As you know, through my work in retail, I come into contact with many different people every day. I've particularly noticed that all of us are guided by symbolism to varying degrees. Often, we need or wait for a "sign" to make a decision or carry out an action. We look for or need a trigger in everything we do. This fact is not always sensible or logical, as there is no wrong time for the to do the right thing. However, at the turn of the year, we can use the power of symbolism effectively. The saying "When one door closes, another opens" takes on special significance right now and symbolically offers us the opportunity to close one chapter of life and start a new one. New Year's resolutions are therefore a valuable tradition that helps us focus on our goals and desires. The challenge, however, lies in implementing these resolutions.
American studies and surveys paint a clear picture of the priorities and their chances of success. Subsequently, only about 8% of people achieve their New Year's resolutions. A Statista survey shows that the top three resolutions are "earning more money," "health," and "more time for social contacts." Interestingly, another statistic shows that 39% of resolutions are forgotten within a month, and another 27% fail in the second month. These statistics reflect a generally valid trend: despite good intentions, many fail to implement their resolutions. This is particularly evident in the new registrations at gyms. According to various sources, January is the month with the highest number of registrations, recording up to 60% more sign-ups compared to the average of the remaining months. Experience shows that this is also the most strenuous month for existing members ;-).
To increase the chances of success, experts recommend setting simple and concrete goals. Instead of vague resolutions like "living healthier," specific goals such as "exercising three times a week" or "eating five servings of fruits and vegetables daily" should be pursued. It is also helpful to make these goals public or share them with friends and family to create additional accountability. In this context, I can recommend the book "The 1% Method" by James Clear. In this book, the author describes how we can gradually approach our goals through small measures. Here, not only concrete goals, as just described, but also small rewards should be defined to create an incentive. These rewards do not have to be large; often, a gesture of recognition is enough to satisfy our brain.
Taking small steps towards a goal is important, as it is unrealistic to achieve objectives overnight, such as losing weight or becoming a sports enthusiast. Establishing a routine of small steps turns them into a habit, which is necessary for maintaining goals sustainably. For example, instead of aiming to jog for an hour every day, one could start with a ten-minute walk and gradually increase this time. This approach reduces the feeling of being overwhelmed and helps to integrate new habits into daily life step by step. The author also emphasizes that it is more effective to replace bad habits with good ones. It is generally harder for us to not do something than to do something. For instance, if we want to spend less time on our phones and social media, it's best to replace this time with a new hobby.
Finally, moving away from theory to Matze's practical tips and thoughts. The start of a new chapter in life can only be successful if it is accompanied by positive thoughts. When we look back at the past year and remember both the positive and negative moments, we should be grateful for the positives and view the negatives as challenges that we have overcome or will overcome. In the end, we are the sum of both, and there are people who love us just as we are. Please do not let bad experiences or disappointments distract you from your goals. I wish you a happy new year and hope that you achieve your goals for your new chapter.
Related links (last visit 29.12.2023):
Forbes: „50% Of Gen Z Cite This Health Improvements As A Top New Year’s Resolution For 2023“
Statista: „Häufigste gute Vorsätze für das Jahr 2024 in Deutschland“; „Wie lang die guten Vorsätze halten“
Forbes: „Just 8% of People Achieve Their New Year’s Resolutions. Here’s How They Do It“
Ray Williams: „Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail and What to do About It“