5 . One thing that’s never in short supply at the beginning of each new year? 1 But many of us fail to stick with our New Year’s resolutions months (or even weeks) after making them. It turns out there are commonly avoided mistakes. That explains why some people always seem to reach their goals while others keep falling short.
2 If you fail to pick the right habit, you aren’t likely to accomplish the corresponding goal. Say you want to lose some weight this year, forming a habit of running 30 minutes a day may not help you do that if you don’t also form habits related to the foods you eat, because diet affects weight more than exercise. 3 Failure to establish habits that support your goals may cause your resolutions to flop before you begin.
Another common mistake people make when setting goals is becoming overly concerned about the amount of time it will take to form a new habit. There’s no one right answer when it comes to how long new habits should take to form. 4 Some people simply adopt new habits faster than other people and that complex habits usually take longer to form. Consider how easy it is to brush your teeth at night compared to reading a full chapter of a book each day.
So the yearly ritual of resolution setting doesn’t have to be an annual disappointment. Sometimes, the difference between success and failure is simply choosing the right habits and the process you use to go about achieving it. Most importantly, remember to be kind and flexible with yourself and to celebrate any and all progress along the way. 5
| A．Good intentions. |
| B．Congratulations and best wishes. |
| C．In other words, you must also readjust your diet. |
| D．It’s essential to choose a habit you think enjoyable. |
| E．A common error many people make is not choosing right habits. |
| F．It depends on what habit you’re trying to develop and who you are. |
| G．It’s not just the end goal that matters—it’s the journey along the way. |
