As 2020 approaches, the stress of coming up with a New Year’s resolution mounts. This may surprise you, but there are times and situations that indicate you should forgo making a New Year’s Resolution. Let’s examine a few.
1) If you are making the resolution for the wrong reason.
Just because your friends are making this resolution does not mean you have to do it also. Peer pressure is not a great motivator. According to Health Journal, the only possible way to achieve a resolution is if you are strongly motivated to do it for your own personal reasons and not for the social activity or group bonding that may result.
2) If you are not entirely ready to make the change.
Not only do you need to commit to the resolution for the right reasons, but you also have to be ready to make the corresponding lifestyle changes. Psychology Today indicates that there are three precursors to change. If you are in any of these three areas with your thoughts and motivation, you are not yet fully prepared to take action and make change. These three precursors include:
a) In theory, the change sounds like a good idea, but there is no concrete thinking associated with it yet. You haven’t planned out the necessary steps you’ll need to take to make the change happen.
b) You are thinking about the change but also worried about the drawbacks of making it.
c) You intend to change but feel some dread about it.
Making a resolution if you’re in any of these mindsets is premature and will most likely fail.
3) If your resolution is too big.
You wait until January 1 to resolve to eat better, lose weight, exercise more, and save money. Whoa, that is overwhelming for anyone. It is far better to pick an attainable resolution that can be divided into actionable items. For instance, resolve to exercise more by coming up with a detailed weekly fitness schedule. By concentrating on the fitness schedule, you will be exercising more, which, as a byproduct, will kick start your weight loss and could facilitate better dietary choices.
Lifestyle changes and resolutions are not a bad thing. However, if you wish to succeed, it is wise to consider making them when you are ready, which may not necessarily be on January 1.