A Recent Study Has Revealed Why People Fail New Year Resolutions

Are you a Planner or a Doer?

Preface

My girlfriend asked me at the end of 2014, as we headed for the countdown:

What is your New Year resolution for 2015?

I never make them. I have my goals and work for them every day.

There are few things in life I find funnier than New Year resolutions. Let’s hear what science says. Please let me translate this for you.

What did a recent study by the University of East Anglia find out?

Individuals often make resolutions in January to maintain healthy lifestyle regimes — for example, to eat better or exercise more often — then fail to keep them.

Thanks, we all know this.

Behavioural scientists frequently interpret such behaviour as evidence of a conflict between two ‘selves’ of a person — a Planner (in charge of self-control) and a Doer (who responds spontaneously to the temptations of the moment).

That sounds familiar, isn’t it?

A respectable gentleman Dr. Jekyll separates himself from evil Mr. Hyde.

Let’s keep going, shall we?

Public policies designed to ‘nudge’ people towards healthy lifestyles are often justified on the grounds that people think of their Planners as their true selves and disown the actions of their Doers.

That’s interesting. More public pressure results in more action from Mr.Hyde.

An equal number of statements expressed wishes for less self-control (eg, ‘I wish there was less social pressure to take exercise’), regret about exercising self-control (‘After ordering a healthy dish, I often wish I’d chosen something tastier’), and approval of spontaneity (‘Having occasional treats is an important source of happiness for me, even if they are bad for my health’).

If you push it too hard, you will fail.

Why did I fail so many times in my life?

I’m turning 43 next month. I have a rich history of failures. Coming soon on Medium! What was common every time I failed?

• I wanted to start in the future. Tomorrow, from Monday, from next month
• I had a perfect plan and wanted to aim for the stars. Maximum effort every day!
• I wanted to do it all on my own

Results?

Most times I never started doing it. When I did, I lacked enough time and energy to go hard all the time. The absence of mentorship and/or community support made accountability hard.

Tomorrow never comes until it’s too late.

What worked for me?

Do all these failures make me a loser? No way! What did I do every time I was successful?

• I found a tiny piece of action I could do and did it today
• I finished it and celebrated my success
• I did a little more the next day. And the day after.
• I listened to myself after that to understand my current limits.
• I asked for help and support when I needed it

There was no conflict inside me. No Planner or Doer dialogue.

I was in harmony. I could be sustainable and enjoy my life.

It’s my life! It is now or never!

Summary

Want to start something? Forget about a brand new life from tomorrow. Making hardcore efforts every day all on your own? Never worked for me.

Find a tiny step. Do it today. Feel good about it. Do it again tomorrow. Find people to support you.

Good luck!

If you want to start your fitness journey, join one of my programs on Medium:

I’ve started a fitness column at the New Writers Welcome publication. Perfect if you want to get healthier at your own pace.

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Thank you for reading!