Turn Resolution Failure into Decision Success in 2018

As a nation, so many of us make New Year’s resolutions. I wonder how many of us actually keep them? Sadly, it doesn’t take long for our old bad habits to creep back in, and our good intentions of a healthier and more productive year can be forgotten before February arrives! So maybe there’s a simpler way of tackling the huge pile of resolution pressure we heap on ourselves every 31st December?

Perhaps the answer is to approach our resolutions with a new and fresh perspective. To me, a resolution is always something that I set out to do with good intention, but know that I have a good excuse to give up after a few weeks, as after all, nobody keeps them, do they? So simplify things. Don’t set unrealistic goals, and try not to think of them so much as resolutions, but more as decisions. If your goal is to lose weight, make the decision to take a little more exercise; walk where possible instead of taking the car. Instead of resolving to diet, make the decision to eat a little healthier; swap out a couple of snacks for fruit or vegetables, and cut out a fizzy drink or two in favour of a glass of water. Make the decision to give more. So many charities support us in going sober for a few months out of the year – give it a try, and donate to a worthy cause. Our shopping habits can also help us with this by choosing to purchase goods and services from companies that are both philanthropic and ethical.

It doesn’t have to be a big deal, just a few tweaks here and there. Don’t attach the word ‘resolution’ to all your goals for this year – it’s a sure fire way to fail. Make them decisions – here’s to a successful decision making 2018!