Making New Year’s Resolutions That Last -
A Quality of Life Initiative
About the Author Richard K. Harder is an adjunct instructor at Dixie State University in the School of Business and Communication, and senior adjunct instructor at the College of Business and Public Management, University of La Verne in California. He holds a master’s degree in management from California State University, Los Angeles, and degrees in business and hospitality management from San Francisco State University and the City College of San Francisco. He is principal of Richard Harder & Associates Leadership Development and Consulting Services and Lead Smart Training in St. George. His professional mission as a consultant/educator is to assist leaders in their effectiveness at managing individuals, tasks and teams, while improving quality of life for themselves and their families.
56 www.saintgeorgewellness.com
By Richard K. Harder It was an early foggy and damp February morning. One of my New Year’s resolutions was to get up earlier and exercise more often. By the way, a resolution, by definition, is “a firm decision to do or not do something.” My intended routine was jogging for better heart health. The thought of an invigorating early morning jog three times per week seemed like such a worthwhile “resolution,” so I resolved to begin this routine. I was determined that this would be another favorable feature of my lifestyle. The alarm went off at 5:30 a.m., much earlier than my previous wake-up time. I readied for my new initiative by pushing the mattress off my back, jumping into my jogging gear, strapping on my running shoes, and driving to the nearby high school track to begin my new venture. I walked onto the track and looked up to notice the misty fog whirling about the illuminated streetlights. The wind and early morning damp sent a chill over my wakening body, at which point I said, “I am probably the only person in this entire city about to run twelve laps around that track at this early hour of the morning. This is stupid.” I scrambled back to the car, drove back to the house, and jumped into a bed that was still as comfortable and warm as when I left it ten minutes earlier. Does this sound like “a firm decision to do or not to do something?” Not really. It lacked essential ingredients without which most resolutions will never last. And this is the message of this quality of life article: making New Year’s resolutions that last. Research shows that the most common New Year’s resolutions are increasing physical fitness, saving money, eating healthier, losing weight, reducing debt, improving relationships, building character, and
smoking cessation. Studies also reveal that 55 percent of all resolutions are health related. These intentions seem like meaningful and sensible personal resolutions. Unfortunately, most resolutions made are never achieved. According to a study conducted by the University of Scranton, just 8 percent of people achieve their New Year’s goals, while most fail to keep these resolutions. Unrealistic expectations are one of the main reasons that New Year’s resolutions fail. Here are five simple steps what will help you to make lasting resolutions: 1. Put your resolutions in writing and share them with others whom you trust and who can provide encouragement. 2. Keep the number of your resolutions to a minimum; three or four is best. 3. Make your resolutions specific and realistic. For example, a resolution to save money might read, “I will save 10 percent of my after-tax income from my paycheck on the first and fifteenth of every month.” 4. Be passionate about your resolutions. This mental energy increases the probability of achieving resolutions that have high value to you and your closest loved ones. 5. Have fun with your resolutions and celebrate achievement. It is energizing and motivating to be on the pathway of personal progress and success. Humans are naturally inclined to relish personal development physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Lasting and meaningful resolutions strengthen self-confidence, self-image, self-esteem, and overall health. Make sure that your new year’s resolutions do not go into “one year and out the other.” Enjoy your New Year’s resolution journey and “always bear in mind that your resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” (Abraham Lincoln).
