{"id":387597,"date":"2022-01-05T06:00:59","date_gmt":"2022-01-05T06:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/formnutrition.com\/us\/?p=387597"},"modified":"2022-01-05T04:58:49","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T09:58:49","slug":"4-mindful-ways-to-set-new-years-resolutions-that-will-last","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/formnutrition.com\/us\/inform\/4-mindful-ways-to-set-new-years-resolutions-that-will-last\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Mindful Tips for Setting New Year\u2019s Resolutions That Will Last"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to YouGov<\/a>, over a quarter of us will make a New Year’s resolution, whether that be to read more, eat healthier, or stop skipping leg day. However, one third of resolutioners won\u2019t make it past the end of January<\/a>. What is it about these failed resolutions that prove to be unsustainable then? <\/em><\/p>\n

Well, according to Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh, DClinPsy<\/a>, a psychologist and behaviour change expert, it all boils down to four regularly occurring resolution mistakes. In this article, Dr Aria breaks down these four mistakes while highlighting the themes you should follow instead. Consider this your guide to setting New Year’s resolutions that will last. Leg day? Completed it mate.<\/em><\/p>\n

Choose Consistency Over Intensity<\/h2>\n

The Mistake: Too Hard, Too Fast<\/h3>\n

One of the biggest mistakes that people make when it comes to New Year resolutions, is that they go in too hard, too fast. We try to get into better shape by cutting out all carbs or through an intense training regime. Now we may be able to temporarily make radical changes, but more often than not, we can\u2019t sustain it and we end up returning to our previous habits.<\/p>\n

From a psychological perspective, extreme resolutions often set us up for failure. In the beginning, a little voice in your head tells you: \u201cListen up. You\u2019re about to give up sugar on the 1st of January for the rest of your life. So you need to eat all the chocolate in the house, including that box of Celebrations, even though all the Malteser ones have already gone.\u201d Ironically, following that voice sets you further back, before you\u2019ve even started.<\/p>\n

There comes a point when we \u2018break\u2019 the resolution. We succumb to that bowl of Ben & Jerry\u2019s. What happens next? Our mind says \u201cScrew it, your resolution is ruined now. You may as well smash the rest of the tub.\u201d Then when the resolution ends because it\u2019s too difficult to sustain, either we feel like a failure or there\u2019s a sense of relief that it\u2019s over. No more restrictions. No more deprivation. No more rules. Your mind is so excited to be free that it gives you permission to let loose and we end up overcompensating.<\/p>\n

We need to shift our mindset to see that unsustainable measures lead to unsustainable results. Long-term gains come from sustainable change.<\/p>\n

The key is to adopt a balanced mindset and see that successful resolutions help us to create sustainable lifestyles that we enjoy.<\/p>\n

We can achieve this by making small, gradual changes that become habits. Research<\/a> shows that simpler actions become automatic more quickly than complex ones. So start wherever you are, with a simple step, whether you\u2019re attempting to eat more healthily<\/a>, exercise more often, save money, or travel more. Once this change becomes second nature, then up the ante or add in another. You\u2019ll feel more confident and you\u2019ll find that small changes compound over time to lead to big results.<\/p>\n

So if you\u2019re thinking about making a new resolution, ask yourself these three questions:<\/p>\n