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Every year you set them. New Year, New Me. This year will be different. This Year I'm finally going to start...etc etc.
Well here's a nice positive stat to get you motivated; 80% of New Year's Resolutions fail by mid-Feb. 6 weeks. That's it. 12% of the year. Failed. Oh well, start again next year I guess.
So, instead of setting up in the same way again this time, here's the first of three short blog posts to help you maximise your chance of success and resolution glory in 2022. Let's face it, after a rather rubbish 2021 I'm certainly feeling motivated to get active in 2022...!
Before we get into the juicy bits of how we can actually make it happen in 2022, it's worth exploring the basic psychology behind why we love New Year's Resolutions in the first place.
There's something called "The Fresh Start Effect". Seriously. It's a thing.
We all love a fresh start. It's important we can employ them as and when we need because the complicated, full-on, hectic, stressful, mind-splitting challenges and demands of life simply demand that we can sometimes say "right, that's it - starting on Monday I'm going to...."
Making a fresh start informally permits us to forgive those imperfections and faults of the past. Ate a whole packet of biscuits Wednesday night? Doesn't matter, start again Monday. Having a big blow-out this weekend? Doesn't matter, fresh-start next week.
It's also interesting that fresh starts come at certain specific moments throughout the year. If you're a teacher I bet you make little changes at the start of a term. Lent is another perfect opportunity to clean up some of our unhealthy habits as we ban things until Easter. What bigger a moment to 'reset the dial' than the first day of the year?
A New Year's Resolution is an admission of our own dissatisfaction with ourselves. I bet you've never set a resolution to do something you're already really good at. That kinda isn't how it works. What we're saying is "I don't exercise enough. I don't like how I look/feel. I want to be fitter." We're essentially admitting a fault - that we didn't exercise enough this year, and that needs to change.
So in summary, if I can admit to a past failure, allow myself to write it off and give myself an almost-guaranteed chance of success simply by starting it on 1st Jan then sign me up, I'm there.
But we know there's a little more to it don't we!
What's also interesting to note is that, since Covid there's been a big increase in the number of people looking to lead a healthier lifestyle with more exercise, healthy eating and losing weight being the three main aims. When the Government conducted a poll of 5000 adults in January 2021, 80% reported that they planned to be healthier due to Covid. Let's hope it's the same this year.
If you're one of the millions looking to kickstart a new, healthier lifestyle in 2022 it's important to understand why New Years resolutions fail, and what you can do to maximise your chances of success.
The next two blog posts sent out over the next two days will deal with these questions.
In January 2022 you can book a tour of the club and some informal exercise advice.
You can also buy a two-week Club Pass for £15. A great way to try us out before hopefully coming on board as a member!
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