Resolve not to give up

It’s only natural to get bogged down by habits in life. New year, fresh start at life — that’s the idea behind New Year’s resolutions. Less than half of us will actually bother, however, according to research at the University of Scranton.

Results published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology reveal the top 10 New Year’s resolutions for the 45 percent who make them are:

1. Lose weight

2. Get organized

3. Spend less, save more

4. Enjoy life to the fullest

5. Be fit and healthy

6. Learn something

7. Quit smoking

8. Help others

9. Fall in love (can one control that?)

10. Spend more time with family

Only 8 percent report being regularly successful in achieving New Year’s resolutions, but those who explicitly make them are 10 times more likely to attain goals. Seventy-one percent won’t keep them past two weeks.

Age matters, apparently. Younger adults are more likely to report success. While 39 percent of people in their 20s achieve their goals, only 14 percent of those over 50 will.

Perhaps these tips will help the determined stick with it:

1. Make it routine. Incorporate the resolution into a time slot each day, or if that’s inapplicable, set a daily reminder in a smart phone or calendar.

2. Connect with others. Joining a group with the same goals, or reading about others who share them, may provide inspiration and encouragement.

3. Reward yourself. Of course this doesn’t mean brownies for each pound lost or mile run, which defeats the point. But small rewards at milestones can help keep momentum.

4. Check progress, but don’t overdo it. Metrics keep us on track, but especially with certain resolutions — such as fluctuating weight loss — daily checks may have the opposite effect. If this resolution is to last all year, regular but less frequent measures may be more effective.

5. Be realistic. Set reasonable goals. If met early, set another one. That way “failure” will be a less likely result.

Steven Covey said self-improvement is a marathon, not a sprint. Whatever the resolution, patience and determination go hand in hand.

•••

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network whose resolution is to worry less. Contact her at Sholeh@cdapress.com.