A new year is upon us and as always the main thing I hear people talking about is new year’s resolutions. Today I’m going to discuss why only a tiny percentage of people manage to see them through and what you can do instead.

Around 45% of people stated in a recent survey that losing weight and eating healthy is their #1 resolution for the year.

I have definitely noticed that in the past few years. Nutrition services quickly fill up and the gym gets packed in the first few weeks of January. But, year after year, I see the number of people at the gym dwindling each week. By February, it’s back to me and a few other regulars again. In fact, statistics show that only 9.2 percent of people ever achieve their New Year’s resolutions.

Why Do Most Resolutions Fail?

The reason why very few people succeed is that new year’s resolutions are often too general, too overwhelming, or too vague. We often make a long list of things we’d like to achieve that can be unrealistic. We don’t define them clearly enough and have no deadlines.

That’s why today I’d like to discuss 5 tips that have greatly helped me to set realistic goals and accomplish them.

5 Keys to Setting Achievable Goals & How to Accomplish Them

1. Make a list of the goals you wish to achieve either on paper or electronically, but be sure to write them down. Be specific, set a deadline and list ALL the reasons you can think of that motivate you to accomplish each goal.

For example, if you want to lose weight, write down exactly how much weight you want to lose, by when, and why. How would losing weight affect your life and why is it important to you? Write down everything that comes to mind.

2. If your goals are too big, break them down into smaller milestones. It’s easier to achieve them this way and you’ll be more motivated to continue.

For instance, if you want to lose 50 pounds, you can start with aiming to lose 8 pounds in the first month, 6 pounds in the second month, and so on.

Celebrate each milestone and feel proud of your accomplishments.

3. Anticipate roadblocks and think about solutions for every possible scenario.

For example, if your goal is to eat more homecooked meals, think about what has stopped you from cooking in the past. Was it being tired after a long day of work? Was it not knowing what to cook, or perhaps feeling overwhelmed with too many options. How can you solve each of these problems so that you can stick to your goal?

Thinking about these hurdles ahead of time makes you feel prepared and empowered to take on any challenges that may arise along the way. That feeling of empowerment is one of the most important keys to success!

4. Find an accountability partner or system.

Discuss your goals with a family member, friend, roommate, coworker, etc. and ask them to hold you accountable. We’re much more likely to succeed if we make our plans public or tell a few others about them. If you’re the only person who knows about the goal and you’re not 100% committed, you’ll most likely forget about it and move on to something else.

For example, if exercising more is on your list, find a personal trainer or a friend who’s willing to work out with you. If you’re trying to eat better, work with a nutritionist or follow a clean eating meal plan.

5. Review your goals every day and do at least one thing a day that helps you move towards your goal. 

Track your progress, see where you’re falling behind, and why. Revisit your goals at the end of the week and make adjustments to your goals and tactics as necessary.

Hope you’ve found these tips useful and are able to set realistic goals that you can successfully attain! Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions. And of course, don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help incorporating healthier eating and lifestyle habits. XO