the dangerous of resolution

Have you ever heard about resolution? Or you might be the one who always creating resolution, a month or two before celebrating new year. Yeah, this kind of term, emerge in the new year situation, alongside with the kaleidoscope things. So how is it? Any of your resolutions accomplished? Or is it just another wishes, dream of yours that never achieved? Or let me guess, do most of your resolutions is to be rich and famous? And how is it now, achieved or restrained?

By the way, when this article was made, richest man on earth is no longer Elon Musk with his Tesla way that approximated having net worth of 146,5 US$ Billion (Thomas Mackay, scotsman.com, January 3th 2023). He is second now. The richest are Bernard Arnault, CEO and Chairman of LVMH, with his net worth 179,1 US$ Billion. In Indonesia, there is also a change of Richest man throne. Hartono Brothers (Budi and Michael) have been on the top list richest man in Indonesia for many years. Currently, they are shifted by Low Tuck Kwong (Bayan Resources) with his net worth US$ 27,8 Billion (Budi Hartono has US$ 22,3 Billion and Michael Hartono US$ 21,5 Billion, Forbes 2022). I doubt if they are calculating their respective wealth. I am sure that money or even richest man throne are not their ultimate goals. If its true, then how the richer become richest and always be? In a way, richest such as Arnault, Musk or Kwong are just like us, they just want to be better, more success and always having self-improvement plans (do we have it?).

So, how dangerous is a resolution?

According to the merriam webster dictionary, resolution is the act of process of resolving. A new year resolution is a tradition, commonly in western culture. A person decides to continue his/her good practices, change undesired behaviour or bad habits, furthermore, improve their good habits at the beginning of a calendar year. The rest, history about new years resolution are numerous on the web, you can read it by yourself. The new year resolution more over like a dream of wisdom, better person, better behaviour, better conditions.

Statistically, how much this new year resolution success rate?

In a 2014 report, 35% of participants who failed their New Year's Resolutions admitted they had unrealistic goals, 33% of participants did not keep track of their progress, and 23% forgot about them; about one in 10 respondents claimed they made too many resolutions. (Michelle Hutchison, 2014).

Backward, a 2007 study by Richard Wiseman from the University of Bristol involving 3,000 people showed that 88% of those who set New Year resolutions fail, despite the fact that 52% of the study's participants were confident of success at the beginning. Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, wherein resolutions are made in terms of small and measurable goals such as “lose a pound a week” rather than "lose weight" (Jonah Lehrer, The Wall Street Journal, 2009).

According to a 2016 study, of the 41% of Americans who make New Year’s resolutions, by the end of the year only 9% feel they are successful in keeping them. On average, only 9-12% of people keep their new year resolution. (discoverhappyhabits.com). Only 27% of survey participants made any resolutions for 2020. Most participants (64%) kept some of the same resolutions from 2019 and also made some new ones. Overall, the most popular resolutions for 2020 are to exercise more (50%), save money (49%), and eat healthier (43%). 31% of survey participants plan on making resolutions for 2021 while 19% are still undecided. Only 23% of 2022 survey participants planned on making new years resolutions. The most popular resolutions for 2022 are living healthier (23%), personal improvement and happiness (21%), and losing weight (20%). Other statistics about new year resolutions success rate you can find at discoverhappyhabits.com.

Based on those data, what conclusions we can make? That most of the people fail to live up to their resolutions. They even tended not to make any new year resolution again for the next year. This is what we called the dangerous of resolution. Mostly, they evaluated their resolution into big four failure categories: unrealistic goals, didn’t keep track of their own progress, forgot their resolution, and too many resolutions. Their resolutions are just like a dream or hope, a delusion that can’t be happen although if we wait for the next century ( I doubt if we can make it).

Then how to make this new year resolution become possible to achieved?

First, you have to make sure and realized yourself, do you need a resolution that much or why you need it? Becoming better person, better behaviour and having better conditions isn’t that grandiose. Commonly, it is most people simple wishes. And for those simple wishes, you need a resolution as a trigger? Isn’t that something naturally has to be done? As a human being? You don’t need a resolution to drive those basic instinct. 

You can have your new year resolution just to make sure that you have a specified and escalating purpose and or other purpose rather than just to be better that yesterday. You can challenge yourself by adding a specific numerical target on what you proposed such as losing weight 15 kg, have savings US$500-1000 or any other target that specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and having time bound goals.  Having those SMART resolution can help you to define how much you need to have resolutions or why you need to have it. You can share it to your spouse, siblings, partners, or friends as a reminder to help you keep in track on making progress any goals you targeted.

 Next, you have to develop the necessary skills and or mindset to help you and make sure that your resolutions is achievable. To enhance the necessity and mindset that you need, find your support system and surround yourself with the positive vibes.

Always asking a question before making any declarations. This can make sure that any wish you list in your resolution are the best and you are needed most. You can focusing on smaller goals to hit your bigger goals. Focus on knocking one small chunk down at a time, then move on to the next one. As you break the big goal down into smaller chunks, each of those chunks should have its own deadlines (marcel Schwantes, inc.com 2022).

The next step you should do is change your timing. Start anything with the term of “still have to” rather than “just a little longer”. Start you action now, rather than plan it into the best step. Some says that “the best plan is  the one that does”. Get rid the habit of procrastination. Trust me, the more you delay the work/task, doesn’t make it easier to do. If it possible, don’t wait until new year to make resolution. The success of resolution relies on finding the right moment to make the change. And the best moment is now, or even yesterday, not tomorrow, nor the next week.

For sum, don’t let those statistic make you doubt on what your resolution list. Or you might be doesn’t have to make any resolution, make up your dream and like Nike says “Just do it”. The simple thing to start is "Getting in shape, meditating, expressing gratitude". Happy new calendar everyone.