New Year’s Resolutions

It is that time of year again. New Year’s resolutions. Do you have any? If you do you’re not alone. And if you’ve struggled with New Year’s resolutions in the past, you’re not alone there either.

According to Colombia University, about half of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. However, only about 25% of those resolutions are kept after 30 days. So how can you be one of those who successfully keep your resolutions? We have some tips, and it is more about habits than pure willpower.

Humans are creatures of habit. When you have a New Year’s resolution that is a major change, you are literally going against human nature. Our brains form habits because it helps us predict successful outcomes. Sometimes these habits are triggered by certain external cues, usually related to having a behavior that is tied to that cue.

That doesn’t mean habits can’t be changed. It just means that it helps to be more mindful of how you go about changing it.

For starters, think about how you define yourself. If, for example, your resolution is to lose weight, you might tell people you are trying to lose weight. Yet that is a different mindset than saying ‘I am losing weight,’ or ‘I am a person who eats healthy.’ Mindset goes much further than pure willpower. In fact, some evidence suggests those who seem like they have the strongest willpower are the ones who don’t feel the need to exercise that willpower often because they view themselves differently or because they don't put themselves in positions where they are tempted to break their resolutions.

Another tool that can be helpful is habit tracking. If your goal is to exercise more, you might easily say, ‘oh, I just missed a day here or there.’ Yet tracking your habits, either on paper or via an app, makes you more mindful of the days you missed and also gives you a visual representation of just how many days you actually missed.

Additionally, accountability goes a long way toward successful habit formation. Having a workout buddy or a sponsor you call when you are craving a cigarette goes a long way toward our motivation to stay consistent with habits. Here peer support programs like the ones run by the LegalMind Society can help if you don’t know where else to turn.

Lastly, it can also help to remove negative habit cues from your environment. For example, if you struggle with scrolling social media on your phone while you should be working, it can help to put your phone in a drawer, or in another room if you work from home. Having it out of sight can go a long way towards having it out of mind.

If you are looking to change some habits this year, whether it is for your personal success, professional success, or for your mental health (or all of the above) we can help. Our peer support program can be an accountability tool for you to use while also giving you the benefit of knowing you are not alone in facing your challenges. Email info@thelegalmindsociety.org for more information.