I know it is just the 5
th day in 2015, but it is not uncommon to find that many people have either abandoned their New Year’s resolutions, or are struggling to keep up with them. Studies have shown that a large percentage of people abandon their resolutions in the first week of the New Year.
There are several reasons why people abandon their resolutions after making promises about changes they want in their lives starting from the New Year, and most of the times, not all reasons are due to laziness. If you are already getting tired of your resolutions, here are a few reasons why you may be feeling that way.
The Bandwagon Effect
Some people only make New Year’s resolutions because other people are making them. Fads are attractive and contagious, but frankly, having new goals for the New Year is not compulsory. You may feel like you have achieved all you want, or that you do not have old habits to drop, or new languages to learn. If you are satisfied with yourself and do not see the need to make new resolutions, then there is absolutely no need to make one. You will only be hurting yourself when you are unable to meet those goals.
Setting the Wrong Goals
For some of us, it is not about making resolutions because others are making them. It is about making the wrong goals. I once made a resolution to travel more, and I abandoned that resolution as soon as I wrote it down. Because, I frankly do not like travelling to the extent that I would want to do more of it. Yes, I like the occasional visits to new places, but I’m not the type to pack a bag at every opportunity. Obviously, a resolution like that won’t last. It doesn’t align with my type of person.
If you have made resolutions that have been abandoned, don’t beat yourself up over it yet. Ask yourself if it is something you actually really want, and can do, or something that just felt nice to write down.
Lack of Motivation/ Procrastination
It’s been 3 years since I’ve been planning to learn a new language. Every year, I write it as part of my new year’s resolutions, and make little efforts to achieve it. Usually, as soon as I get the learning materials, I start to find ways to talk myself into postponing the project. My excuse is always that languages are difficult to learn, but we all know that procrastination is the culprit in cases like this.
The fear of committing to something that seems difficult, leads us to procrastinating till we eventually abandon a goal.
Making New Year’s resolution is just the start to a commitment to achieve something in our lives. While making resolutions may not be for everyone, abandoning your resolutions may not necessarily mean that you have failed. It may simply mean that you need to make some adjustments that will help you achieve them.
Do you find it easy to keep up with your new year’s resolutions? Share with us in the comments below.
About the author: Amina Salau is a writer and editor running The Illuminated Pen. You can find her online at www.theilluminatedpen.com and on Twitter (@_Aminah)
