Gave Up Already? : Top 4 Reasons Your Resolution Failed

Why You Already Failed Your New Year’s Resolution Plan

Did you give up your New Year's resolution, already? We’re three weeks in, some of you have already given up the fight. Why is that? Why do so many people make this grand plan to make a change for the better in the New Year, and then after about 2 weeks go back to their old ways? Well here are the top 4 reasons why:

1. It Was Harder Than You Expected

You didn’t think your plan all the way through. You didn’t anticipate the challenges that would come up, so as soon as you had your first one, you started to feel defeated. It is so much easier to overcome challenges when we know what to expect, and make a plan to overcome it, so that we are successful. Think about when you went to college. Those extra strict teachers who barely passed the class were much easier to take on, when we got advice from last year’s students on how she does things (yes, it's usually a she).

Or think about your first work out. You know you will be in pain, so you get some Epson salt from the store to soak in afterwards. This made the next day and the next workout 1000 times easier. Get some knowledge about what to expect, the next time you make a plan to change something. Just knowing what to expect can make all the difference in how you conquer it!

2. You Didn’t Make A Solid Plan

Speaking of what to expect...Make.A.Plan! You know what your routine looks like now. Incorporate your changes into your daily routine, with room for slip ups, rest days, rewards, and pity days. If you plan to stick with that workout plan. Make sure you plan yourself a cheat day, or a rest day. Start the plan off small, so that you can ease into it, gradually increasing the intensity, for a better chance at sticking with it. If you expected just to get up on January 2nd, and start working out, but you didn’t make a plan for it, you could be wasting precious effort and time. If you don’t have proper workout shoes, or clothes, or time, or a proper diet to go along with it, you get set back (like times 10).

Imagine you got a good two weeks of working out in, but you hadn’t matched up your eating with it. That’s probably 10 pounds you would have lost because you planned ahead, rather than losing maybe 2 pounds and getting discouraged. Then you quit because you barely see results.

When you start something new, without an organized/well thought out, plan, it is much harder to see results. Results motivate you to keep going. So next time, make a plan for success, not failure, so that you can keep the momentum going!

3. No One Is Holding You Accountable

You might have had a plan, made room for excuse days, and anticipated challenges…but maybe you forgot to have somebody to hold you accountable. It doesn’t have to be a personal trainer, or a life coach. It could be your boyfriend, or girlfriend. It could be your best friend. It could be social media, for goodness sake, but having someone to answer to, can be the difference between sticking with something and letting it go.

So many people start new things without telling anyone, because they are afraid if they fail, they will look silly. I know I used to be this way. It would get me down, when I would try my hardest, but just wouldn’t see results. The thought of people thinking I was lazy, or wasn’t trying hard enough, was enough to make me think the same. Then I would just give up all together. Like if I’m working this hard at this goal, and I’m not seeing reasonable results, I must be doing something wrong. So instead of telling others that I gotta adjust my plan, I just would rather tell them I gave up on it, so that they wouldn’t associate me with being stupid, lazy, or silly.

The truth of the matter is, if they aren’t doing it, they don’t know. Anyone who has been in your position, that is trying to make the same kind of change as you, would know that sometimes progress stalls. Sometimes you have the wrong information, and you have to shift gears in order to see results. Forget what others have to say, and tell someone you trust, that will check in on you every now and then. If you need something stronger, consider a personal coach of some sort. Groups are good too. Like, fitness groups who are all working toward the same goal or intimate class sizes that work to achieve the same goal. Those people will help hold you accountable, and you will find that it can be much harder to quit, when you have others watching you. It’s even better when you have people beside you, rooting for you to win. So find a partner/cheerleader, and keep it pushing!

4. You Did Too Much Too Soon

Oh, so you thought this change was going to happen with a flip of a light switch? The best example of this are those fad diets that promise you to lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks. While those results are possible, the dedication required to do so, is usually extreme. Thus, it takes a person with extreme determination and personal accountability to do it. Even in a short amount of time, the conditions of making such a drastic change in such a short period of time can have strong negative effects on the body. The mind becomes tired, the body feels discombobulated, and the spirit can become confused. Remember that any change you want to make for the long run, takes time. There has been nothing good for you, that happens in the snap of a finger. If anyone knows something that is, LET ME KNOW. Cuz a sistah wouldn't mind ;-).

Accept that this is a marathon, not a sprint, and adjust your mentality accordingly. So many people want the change NOW NOW NOW, and when that doesn’t happen, they get frustrated and give up. Even if it is possible to get those results, our bodies and minds are not made to physically and mentally work under those conditions. Therefore, people who do this, usually find themselves going a little crazy for a moment, while their body is acclimating. If that’s okay with you, to each it’s own. But I would never recommend this, and highly discourage such changes, because they aren’t good for you, no matter how good you look, how much money is in your bank account, or what relationship you’ve changed. Ease into things with a proper plan, a support system, and reasonable expectations….and I guarantee, you’ll be A-OK.

My Challenge To You

So as we enter into a new week, let’s use it for our own good. How about you use this week to mentally prepare yourself to start over. Write out your plan, and tell someone about it. Don’t pick a start date too far in the future. Try next Monday. Then, charge forward with success! I’ll see you at the finish line 😉.

With love and grace today,

Chan at the [BOG].

#lifecoach #challenge #newyear #newyearsresolution #makenewyearsresolution