Creating New Habits for a Great New Year!
As 2015 has now ended and we flip the calendar to 2016, you can bet that millions upon millions of people will be making resolutions for the upcoming year and beyond. The New Year psychologically provides a fresh, new start and is a great time for people to seek betterment for themselves and their life.
While this is great in theory, putting it into practice is another animal. According to a 2013 study conducted by the University of Scranton, only 8% of people achieve their New Years’ resolutions.
That’s why creating new habits in the new year is so important.
So what gives? It seems easy enough. Just set your resolutions and off you go.
Inevitably, people start off strong for the first couple weeks or maybe a month. Then February rolls around and people start backsliding. By the end of the year, they are back where they started — setting the same intentions yet again for another season.
The biggest reason for the inability to stick with it, is that people just aren’t ready to make a full commitment to changing their habits and creating new habits.
We must realize that our habits are what dictate our results. We will not achieve the results we seek if we do not have good habits. That’s why creating new habits is vital.
Very few people who achieve great things, whether it be in business, sports, or really anything in life, have superior habits to those who do not achieve. They are usually awake early, working out, learning, etc., and most have ritualistic routines that they follow to stay on track.
The number one key to being successful in achieving your goals or resolutions – in creating new habits – is being disciplined. Once you have identified the area(s) that needs to be addressed, then it is a matter of determining which habits need to be adopted to keep your goals within reach.
Some people try to accomplish too much and become overwhelmed, so make sure that you keep your goals to a smaller number. Try to choose 1 or 2 business goals and 1 personal goal. Write down your goals so they are within sight. Be steadfast in your approach to creating your new habits, and celebrate small victories along the way. It is never easy to make real change, but know that I believe in you.
Susan Sly is a best selling author, speaker and entrepreneur. She has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox, Lifetime Television and the CBN. Susan is the mother of five children and resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.Â
