Goals

So what does all this New Year Resolution talk have to do with living a healthy lifestyle in New Orleans?

Per yesterday’s post, we identified that three of the top ten resolutions are health related (exercise more, lose weight/eat healthy, quite smoking) so it’s very likely many people in New Orleans are planning on making those resolutions. Next, it’s important to point out that a New Year Resolution is about setting a goal and creating change – for most of us, those are two things that are musts to living a healthier lifestyle.

The following are 10 of the most common reasons why people fail at their New Year Resolution which is the same as why people fail at meeting their goals and creating change in their lives.

1. Made too big of a resolution: People don’t realize or think through the full implications of some of the resolutions they make.  Too big a resolution is one that has multiple considerations, factors and points to take into account.

2. Made the wrong resolution: Resolutions that are in conflict with your values, integrity and overall life vision won’t ever come to pass because they are not in alignment or in accord to WHO you are.

3. Lacked a plan for success: We don’t plan to fail, we fail to plan.  A New Year’s Resolution is about achieving a goal or adding new procedures into our lives.  Having a plan to implement the resolution establishes realistic expectations, steps and procedures and the HOW.

4. Made a resolution for someone else: Making a resolution to please someone else, to be part of a trend or to impress others is likely to turn bad since the trend might change, the person might not merit it or you might realize it’s actually not worth impressing others.

5. Lacked a genuine commitment: Making a commitment to our resolutions is about making a commitment to ourselves.  Skipping this step devalues taking ourselves seriously.  In general, we don’t accomplish or do things we don’t take seriously.

6. Lacked motivation: To follow through on our resolutions we must be motivated.  Many people are not clear on WHY they take certain resolutions.  Knowing the WHY provides us with motivation to follow-through.

7. Lacked passion towards the resolution: Passion comes in the form of incentives.  Passion fuels our desires.  A resolution that doesn’t have an exciting reward, prize, or positive outcome at the end isn’t interesting or worthwhile.

8. Lacked support: The perfectly made resolution still requires support.  Support is critical to get through the tough times faster and with ease.  Support makes everything better.

9. Insufficient resources: Having appropriate resources which include; knowledge, education, facts, equipment, gear and finances is important at the onset of setting a resolution.

10. Had little to no accountability:Accountability is different then support in that accountability creates a sense of responsibility and discipline.  For many people keeping their word or promise to others adds a necessary layer to following through.