Just before and after New Year's Eve, we convince ourselves that things will really change from January 1, 2022. Train? Three times a week! Smoking? Definitely a thing of the past! Eating unhealthy? At most once a month, without a doubt! Yet all these intentions almost never come to fruition? How did that happen? And then: how should it be done?
About 8 in 10 Dutch people have one or more good intentions for 2022, as shown by various annual surveys. The good intention has often been the same for years: losing weight. But 'busy less' is currently taking over the lead at 27 percent, perhaps due to the challenging times we live in, followed by 'exercise more' at 26 percent. Losing weight has to make do with third place with 24 percent.
The strength of your motivation does not influence the realization of a good intention! Coming up with good intentions is not the problem, the crux is in realizing all those beautiful visions. Research shows that 83 percent of people at the start of the new year sincerely think that they will succeed this year. The result is always disappointing: more than 90 percent never succeed! When it comes to the goal of losing weight, even 98 percent fail! American researchers from the University of Scranton came up with a similar result in 2018: only 8 percent appear to be more or less successful in realizing their good intentions.
The well-known running app Strava investigated, based on millions of users, when most people finally dropped their good intentions and returned to a mediocre life. The result was shocking: January 12 to 19 was designated as a so-called 'Quitter's day'. So after 2 to 3 weeks people fall back into old unworkable patterns and everything and everyone is blamed except the person in the mirror. Apologies are presented as beautiful as the truth!
Why is it that we are so bad at realizing our good intentions?
There are several reasons for this. The biggest problem is: people reason from their good, comfortable feeling. They think about their good intentions and then feel: “I am really, really motivated, I want this”. That may actually be the case at that moment. However, the strength of your motivation has no influence on achieving your goals! The chance of your success is determined by how you deal with obstacles. Setbacks are often used as excuses. Look at the intention to lose weight: just after Christmas when they have eaten their fill, they think: “I want this and I will succeed”. This summer I will walk with confidence in my swimwear. But you don't think about all the holidays, social events, temptations in the supermarket or the days when you have less time reserved for a decent meal and have something delivered quickly.
And so it doesn't work! But how should it be done?
To make a good resolution successful, you have to think carefully about the route to get there. Where are you now and where are you going? You have to make a good plan. Many people do not like to look very clearly in the mirror and see that they now live with a weak body and cannot make an impact on their business/work and relationships. But it is actually very powerful if you know what your weaknesses are and what obstacles you will encounter. What are you going to eat when you're in a hurry? How do I approach parties? What do I do if I don't feel like training?
At Enforce we create fit and powerful people who make an impact on their health and vitality, business/work and relationships. Together we determine where you are now, where you can go and which road (plan) you need to take. We look for long lasting results, never for short, unrealistic results! Sometimes uncomfortable and not fun, but very valuable!
Do you also want to create sustainable results and impact or will you check out again in 2 weeks? For sustainable results, we at Enforce are always available to mirror! Please contact us immediately and plan a valuable conversation.
The difference in who you are and who you want to be is what you DO!
Richard Suijkerbuijk
Enforce Franchisee & Master Trainer
richard@enforce.nl
Schedule a free coaching session or take the online membership test
Does this sound good and are you also ready for a fitter & healthier life? Then schedule a free coaching conversation now Join me or one of the other master trainers! 100% risk-free, the first step has never been easier!
Are you still in doubt? Then take the no-obligation online membership test: 6 short questions (only 1 minute to complete) to discover whether Enforce suits you!
