New Year Resolutions: Small Steps to Success or Big Steps to Failure

SAN ANGELO, TX –With the coming of the new year, people are getting ready to implement many changes. However, most people who come up with new year resolutions don't always succeed.

Professionals say that nearly 45 percent of Americans make new year resolutions, yet 49 percent have infrequent success, and 24 percent completely fail at completing their goals. A mere 8 percent are predicted to be successful in their mission to carry out their plans. Consequently, 38 percent of people claim to never make resolutions and 17 percent do it infrequently.

For those who do make new year goals, 47 percent attribute them to self-improvement and education goals. Weight, money and relationship goals come in at a close second with 38, 34, and 31 percent respectively.

According to statisticbrain.com, the top 10 resolutions for 2017 include:

1 - Lose Weight

2 – Get Organized

3 - Spend Less, Save More

4 - Enjoy Life to the Fullest

5 – Stay Fit and Healthy

6 - Learn Something Exciting

7 - Quit Smoking

8 - Help Others in Their Dreams

9 - Fall in Love

10 - Spend More Time with Family

Research shows that people in their twenties have a 39 percent rate of success when it comes to resolution completion, and for those over 50, the success rate sits at 14 percent.

Another problem with new year resolutions is people tend to abandon them rather early in the year. Research showed the following in regards to the length of time people spend working on their resolutions.

• 75 percent make it through the first week
• 71 percent make it past two weeks           
• 64 percent make it past one month           
• 46 percent make it past six months

What is the main reason that people fail at keeping their resolutions for longer than a week? Most experts agree that the main problem is people make goals that are too ambitious. Making major changes in routines or attempting to quit habits all at once can cause people to feel discouraged and give up quickly.

The best approach is to make small changes that can make it easier to keep the resolutions going all year long. For example, instead of attempting to spend an hour daily at the gym, try slowly adding time to workouts is one way to help the transition. Making progressive changes in eating habits also proves to be more beneficial than attempting to drastically change a person's diet. 

Whatever the resolution may be, taking small steps is one way to ensure people don't give up by the first week.

From everyone at San Angelo LIVE!, we wish you a Happy New Year, and good luck with those new year resolutions.