Get Your Head in the Game
The Success Rate for New Year’s Resolutions
A study from the University of Scranton showed that the success rate of people achieving their New Year’s Resolutions was a mere 8%. While that rate is low, it notes that people who have some success rises to 49%. (Source: Statisticbrain.com)
I’ve often wondered what divides those who meet their goals from those who fail. I’ve heard a lot of different theories to get into the winning category: tell everyone what your goals are; keep your goals secret; make your goals with friends; do it solo; pick a huge goal to excite your psyche; stick to small goals that are more attainable. It’s like every self-help magazine out there makes compelling cases for directly opposing strategies.
For me, it doesn’t what resolution I make (big or small, public or private), I will never achieve my desired goal unless and until I get my head in the game.
Like the other year when I made a goal to run a Spartan Race. I made that a goal because my friend ran a bunch of them and her Facebook photo had her jumping over fire, which looked really cool, but at the end of the year I didn’t sign up for it because the thought of tripping and getting burned scared me. (I eventually got over my fear and discovered that obstacle racing is a lot of fun.)
A House Divided
Abraham Lincoln famously said, “A house divided cannot stand.” When you are having a mental civil war you will never meet your stated, intellectual goal because the emotional side of your brain prevents you from moving forward.
This summer when my mom got cancer and I flew out to New Jersey to take care of her and get her house ready for sale, I said that I wanted to keep eating clean and exercising. And I did want that…sort of. Mostly, I just felt overwhelmed and when that happens my fall back self-comforting trick includes eating lots and lots of chocolate chip cookies. (I’m talking a box a day.) Of course I gained weight!
But a couple of things have changed since then. My mother is now living with me and I can care for her full-time, so even though her health is ultimately out of my hands, I know that she will be loved and cared for to the best of my abilities, which gives both of us some peace. I’m back home in Texas with access to a gym. And I have a big goal – Compete in the Arnold Amateur – to keep me motivated. This is something I wanted to do for two years now and I’m excited to get the opportunity to pose on stage, so my desire to meet this goal is stronger than my desire to comfort myself with food, even on Mom’s chemo days. In short – my head is in the game and I’m not sabotaging my own efforts.
Ask Yourself Some Questions
If you have made goals in the past to lose weight or get in shape, but did not receive the results you wanted, ask yourself why. Are you signing up for the gym membership because you’re trying to appease your mate? Are you promising to eat more vegetables because your doctor said you had to? Are you making a resolution because (like me) your friend did something that seemed cool but you hadn’t really thought it through?
Make a goal that’s fun and important to you. And then ask yourself what’s holding you back. Are you afraid of failure? Are you afraid of success? (i.e. – If I meet my fitness goal will that suddenly change the family dynamic? If I lose a lot of weight will I feel uncomfortable having people look at me again?) Once you make peace with your fears and concerns, it becomes a lot easier to focus on your goals.
Whatever your goals are, resolve that you will be one of the 8% who achieve them this year. Already messed up? Get over it and start again! Each day is a new opportunity for you to get (and stay) on track.
Happy New Year!
Lisa 
Lisa Traugott is a Mom’s Choice Award winning writer, fitness blogger, wife and mom of two. You can read more about her in her new book, “She’s Losing It!” available at Amazon.com.
ShesLosingIt.com (c) 2015 Lisa Traugott. All rights reserved. No portion of this blog, including any text, photographs, and artwork, may be reproduced or copied without written permission.