Resolutions Don't Work. Try This Instead.

Resolutions Don't Work. Try This Instead

Blessed to be given another New Year. For many, this will be yet another attempt at trying to do something that wasn't done the year prior and it will attempted to be done quickly. New Year's resolutions have an astounding track record, and not a good one. Ninety-six percent of most people's resolutions are given up on two weeks in the new year. Yes you read that correctly. So why does this happen?

Most resolutions are quite simply too much too soon. Let's use weight loss as an example since this is typically the most popular resolution. Although there is a stated goal, the weight loss, there is no plan. In addition, there may be an unrealistic expectation as to the amount to lose in a given time period. In the app culture we are immersed in people want things right away and seldom have a mindset of work to achieve.

Some people want to lose ten percent (or more) of their body weight in less time that it takes to even form a new habit. Typically thirty days. But that's our secret weapon to change. Our habits.

Our habits are controlled by our subconscious but the thing is that it must be directed buy the conscious. So although the subconscious is far more powerful, the conscious sets the goal while the subconscious is the engine and the horsepower. The trick is to not let the subconscious know that you are attempting change and to not get it too excited as to awaken it threat response. We are creatures of habit. Typically our habits are anchored in achieving a certain comfort as a reward. If we encounter something that triggers a threat response, our emotional subconscious fires up and pushes us to seek comfort. This is completely normal and what makes us human. But to institute change we have to step out of this to create a new reward, in effect a new comfort. This can't typically done by 'one timing' it. Willpower will fail us in this approach. And if it does work, it will only be temporary. Instead we need to use what willpower we have to institute small incremental change. Small and slow is the key because we have limited willpower to begin with. Also, by going small and slow our subconscious doesn't feel threatened and our normal novelty seeking mechanism works to help us in that it gets excited we are doing something new and will want this repeated. In time this will result in a new habit that we can then add to and create more change.

So going all out beast mode with extreme dieting and exercising is actually designed to fail. Instead decide to eliminate two hundred and fifty calories a day to start. You won't even notice this and it will result in losing a half a pound a week. I know that doesn't sound sexy to most but losing half a pound a week with no effort is twenty six pounds in a year that will most likely be permanent weight loss.

Add to this little by little and in time and whatever your weight loss goal is becomes completely doable and realistic. This approach will work with any resolution you set for yourself. Commit to the process, whatever it is you are looking to achieve and lean on your habits that you will form in the small and slow process. Behavioral change is a marathon, not a sprint.



#elliotyi
#paradigmleft
#habits
#mindset