{"id":6802,"date":"2015-01-01T08:00:40","date_gmt":"2015-01-01T13:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/doinglifetogether\/?p=6802"},"modified":"2014-12-20T08:00:10","modified_gmt":"2014-12-20T13:00:10","slug":"new-years-resolutions-nice-idea-but-do-they-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/doinglifetogether\/2015\/01\/new-years-resolutions-nice-idea-but-do-they-work.html","title":{"rendered":"New Year’s Resolutions: Nice Idea, But Do They Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ID-100293619\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s the start of a brand new year. Happy 2015!<\/p>\n

Once again, you determine to make a fresh start. You’ve thought it through. There are a few things on your list of TO DOs this new year. So, like millions, you make those resolutions.<\/p>\n

The top resolution\u00a0for most of us involves\u00a0fitness. Lose those 10 unwanted pounds. Get to the gym everyday! Stop smoking and eat better.<\/p>\n

Well, if you want to up your chances, move to Florida. Geography matters in terms of follow through. Floridians do better than New Yorkers or Californians.<\/p>\n

And so does follow through. You have to figure out a way to make it happen. Otherwise, you will struggle to juggle that schedule and be part of the 8%<\/strong> that actually follow through on New Year’s resolutions.<\/p>\n

So what else can do you to make those resolutions stick?<\/p>\n

1) Aim low not high<\/strong>. This is especially true with weight loss. Don’t start the year with lofty goals like losing\u00a050 pounds. Rather, begin with a small goal of 5, then 10. It’s psychologically easier to attain and you won’t feel like a failure if it takes awhile.<\/p>\n

2) Start early<\/strong>. Did you know that it is better to start \u00a0changes in August, not December? We are geared up and ready to go (Maybe it feels like\u00a0the start of a new school year!) and January is the worse month for follow-through! You’ve heard of Christmas in July, how about New Year’s Resolutions in August?<\/p>\n

3) Stay the course<\/strong>. If you can go 90 days, you have a better chance of making a change. Think about the gym–most people who crowd the machines in January are gone by March. They haven’t made exercise\u00a0a habit. So from the beginning, make this a commitment in your head, something you have to do regularly to make it stick.<\/p>\n

4) Tell someone who will make you accountable.<\/strong> Like studying, if I know the teacher will quiz me, I study better. So find a friend or loved one and make that person your accountability partner. And your odds of success go way up of there is a financial incentive attached.<\/p>\n

So are New Year’s Resolutions a good idea?<\/p>\n

Only if you are truly commitment, juggle your schedule to make changes, stay the course, have realistic goals and are accountable to others. Otherwise, you join the 92% of Americans who have good intentions,\u00a0but don’t follow through! And that doesn’t feel like a Happy New Year!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s the start of a brand new year. Happy 2015! Once again, you determine to make a fresh start. You’ve thought it through. There are a few things on your list of TO DOs this new year. So, like millions, you make those resolutions. The top resolution\u00a0for most of us involves\u00a0fitness. 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