Why do we give up on New Year's resolutions? 3 tips from experts

Setting realistic expectations with New Years resolutions is a good start to achieve your goals. (Photo: Polina Kovaleva)

Weeks into the new year can make one wonder, why did I even try a New Year's resolution? While the reasons to say farewell to these resolutions can vary from person to person, experts share how people can set realistic and effective resolutions to keep for the entire year. 

"We always advise making resolutions easy and achievable and starting off by making small steps. Don't jump to the big things."

 

"It's easy to set a resolution at the end of December or beginning of January, but studies show that 88% of people who set New Year resolutions fail them within the first two weeks," said Dr. Asim Shah, professor and executive vice chair of behavioral services at Houston's Baylor College of Medicine. 

Common resolutions include exercising more, losing weight or saving money. Dr. Shah says that with these resolutions, people tend to go too hard, too quickly, instead of taking small steps. He explains that the number one reason people may give up is because their goals are unachievable or idealistic. 

If you have given up on your resolution, Dr. Shah says to analyze why you might have given up so quickly. Could this be due to a lack of motivation or not setting the right goal?

"We always advise making resolutions easy and achievable and starting off by making small steps. Don't jump to the big things. If you want to lose weight, make your goal weight realistic," he said. 

Here are 3 tips:

• Set realistic expectations by changing one thing at a time. Also, make adjustments in your life to achieve your resolution
• Track your resolution to give you motivation on a monthly or weekly basis.
• Don't tackle your resolution alone. Encourage a friend, partner or spouse to join you on your journey. 

"It's also good to start with a short-term goal. This can give instant gratification and help give you confidence to strive for a long-term resolution," Dr. Shah said.