Why Do New Year’s Resolutions Fail?

It’s that time of year again. Time to toast the possibilities and potential of a new year. A time for renewed determination for improvement.  A time to say to yourself, I want to make this a better year and I resolve to.. .

Before you do, ask yourself:

• What happened with my resolutions last year?
• Did I achieve what I set out to do?  Do even remember what it was?
• Did we achieve last year’s business goals?
• If not, why not?

If you’re like most people, your resolve lasted less than three weeks. It frequently fades as we get sucked back into the same routines and habits of previous years.  After a few years of unsuccessful attempts, many abandon resolutions admitting: They just don’t work for me.  Or they’ve become an annual joke that allows us to laugh off our lack of resolve.

New Year’s Resolutions have become a superficial toy of prideful underachievers.

Why do so many achieve so few of their New Year’s resolutions?

• New Year’s Resolutions are seldom, if ever, committed to writing.
• Rarely, if ever, is time invested to planning our achievements. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
• Resolution success requires changes in our habitual behaviors. Behavioral scientists tell us it takes a minimum of 21 days to establish a habit.  During that critical forming period, it only takes one day to falter.
• We allow outside influences to effect our internal resolve.  We don’t hold ourselves accountable for our own success.
• We don’t know how to take resolutions seriously. Our ego prevents us from seeking support or learning how.

In absence of a process for commitment to your resolutions, is there any wonder why most people’s attempts meet with failure?

Ten Questions for Your Business and Personal Resolutions

1. In your personal life, professionally and in your organization, what do you have the potential to achieve in the coming year?
2. Have you committed it to writing?
3. Will your resolve evaporate in three weeks, or are you willing to devote the time and conscious effort needed to develop productive new habits?
4. Are you willing to methodically develop and work a plan to realize the rewards of your achievement?
5. If you don’t take action with genuine resolve, will your situation be any different next year that this time?
6. Turning resolutions into achievements presents a challenge for us all, particularly when we go it alone. What kind of support system have you developed?
7. Do you have someone that will support you and hold you accountable? Do you have a coach or mentor to help assure your short and long term goal achievement?
8. Have you considered being a coach for others in your organization or family by encouraging their resolve for achievement?
9. Will you spend the coming year working hard or working smart?
10. What successes are you planning to celebrate in next year at this time?