Episode 2: Top 5 Reasons Why Resolutions Fail & What To Do About It
/The busiest time of the year for any gym is right around when New Years Resolutions are being formed. Often, these aspirations fizzle out by late February or maybe last until March if one is particularly motivated. The general population and media will have you thinking that resolutions, and thus goals, are not built to last. I’ve heard people say, “How long will your resolution last this year?” Setting goals is a positive practice. Setting an expiration date on your resolution insinuates the lack of expectation and accomplishment. So why do so many resolutions fall to the wayside?
1. The practice of choice seems too hard
There is no question that each person should set somewhat lofty goals for themselves. Where a lot of aspirations fail is when they are not broken up into steps with a clear path to success.
What to do about it?
Having a coach or friend readily available to ask the right questions can be the difference in capability or defeat. It is easy to become less accountable to oneself, but if someone else is keeping tabs, you are more likely to stay on the right path.
2. Laziness
Americans are getting more and more sedentary, that is no secret. With all the new technology, people are required to produce more at work in lesser amounts of time. The same does not go for training. People have a natural gravitation toward machines in the gym. “If a machine can do it for me why not use it?” There are many issues with that line of thought that I won’t dive into here.
What to do about it?
The most important thing is to pick a goal that will be intrinsically motivating. Something that burns inside and cannot be put out. For me that was playing colligate baseball. I was constantly the first one to the field/gym and the last one to leave. Knowing I had the skills, I wasn’t going to let my drive dictate when I was finished playing.
Of course there were times where I felt like hanging up my spikes. Those were just bad days, and I eventually came back around to my fiery personality. A key is to be sure you are constantly motivating yourself. Whether it be corny YouTube videos, taking five minutes to recognize why you are doing what you are doing, or finding someone to compete with, discover a way to stay motivated. “People say motivation often doesn’t last. Well neither does bathing. That’s why we recommend it daily.” –Zig Ziglar
3. Consistency
Whatever you do becomes habit. Once that habit is formed, typically it is hard to break. The difficult accomplishments in life are also the most gratifying so I encourage you to take those steps.
What to do about it?
Push yourself to generate positive habits. Get to the gym. Once you’re there, you wont sit at the juice bar without working out. One change I made that was a progressive struggle was attaining my caloric goals. I typically ate a very small breakfast. Then I started making a couple eggs. Then I added some turkey bacon. Now a typical breakfast consists of 1,200 calories and I am adding the long desired muscle I worked so hard for.
4. Specificity
We use a simple acronym when setting goals: S.M.A.R.T. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. So often I hear general goals of, “I want to lose weight,” or, “I want to be better at this.” More important than having the big general goal in mind is having the mini achievements mapped out along the way. Goals should be able to fit into the S.MA.R.T. criteria. Be honest with yourself. A safe fat loss rate is 1-2 lbs/week with diet and exercise while a sensible muscle gain rate is .5-1 lb/week.
What to do about it?
Make your resolution as specific as possible AND give a completion date along with it. Be sure you can measure your progress because if there is no data, there are no results!
5. Bumps in the road turn to mountains blocking the way
I promise, with each lofty goal you set, there will be hiccups, things that slow you down, or something will happen outside of your control.
What to do about it?
Understand that there is not a straight path to success. Approach each scenario with the mindset of the inevitability that these bumps in the road will occur. This thought process will allow you to absorb and eventually overcome each obstacle without the permission to grow into a mountain.
The New Year stands before us like a blank sheet of paper with a chance to write something beautiful, or add a chapter to something great. My hope is that each of you experience these bumps in the road because that means you are trying, making strides, and growing. May 2017 be a year to become whom you truly desire.