Keeping your New Year’s resolution on track

Resolve to make better resolutions Having trouble keeping your New Year's Resolution? Experts say setting smaller goals may be the key to success.
(Courtesy Google Images)

By Ingrid Sjostrand
Edited by GVSU Thornapple Editors


The end of January is nearing and with it comes an end to the new year hype. Excitement about resolutions is starting to fade and those who failed are beginning to wonder, “what did I do wrong?”


After the first month, only 64 percent of people still maintain their resolutions, according to a study performed by John Norcross at the University of Scranton. This number drops to less than half after six months.


The reasons people fail vary, but there are several common themes. Amber Roberts, a student counselor at Grand Valley State University, explained why many people don’t keep their resolutions.

“The type of goals people make are one key to their failure,” Roberts said. “Many attempt to make big lifestyle changes.”

John Adamopoulos, a professor of psychology at GVSU, agreed with Roberts.
“People may not keep their resolutions because they are unrealistically optimistic and involve goals that are very difficult to achieve,” he said.

People can set themselves up for failure when they expect to change an entire aspect of their lives without a plan.

But planning throughout the year can be helpful, Roberts said, to help people stay on track even past New Year’s. The expectation and buildup of New Year’s, added Roberts, can add pressure for success and is often what leads to failure.


Another common obstacle is a lack of drive and motivation. Roberts said many people give up if they make a mistake.

“You have to expect some mistakes,” she said. “If you falter, you shouldn’t give up. You just need to get back on track and try again.”

The lack of success has caused some people to give up New Year’s resolutions altogether.
Allison Lipka, a senior at GVSU, said she doesn’t make resolutions anymore.

“All the resolutions I made in the past were about losing weight and I failed every time,” Lipka said.

It causes more stress and disappointment when she fails, she added.

Another GVSU student, Andres Rodriguez, still struggles despite small successes. He failed all his former attempts, he said, but is more motivated this year. His goal is to stay focused on school and work and to remember what is important in his life.

“I’m doing pretty good right now,” Rodriguez said. “But as I get farther into the semester and my classes get harder it’s going to be a challenge.”

He worries that pressure from classes will set him off-track and lead to another failure.

Setting short-term goals and rewarding yourself are the best way to stay on track, Adamopoulos said.

“Actions should have some immediate consequences, so that people can feel they are getting some results early in their effort,” he said.

Rewards keep you focused on your goals and motivate you to keep trying, Adamopoulos added.

“Overall, people can make long-term goals,” he said. “But these should also involve some smaller, more easily achievable short-term ‘subgoals’ that can help people feel they are making progress with their plans and wishes.”