So your New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, be it a long-term issue or the recent consequence of holiday feasting. According to research, half of you reading this are confident in your eventual success. Unfortunately, research also suggests that nearly nine out of 10 of you reading this will fail. And our own research shows that 10 out of 10 of you will be annoyed with how crowded the ARC will be this month. We’re here to help you beat the odds.
But first, why do so many resolutions fail? One psychologist claims resolutions are a kind of “cultural procrastination” we use to reinvent ourselves. Because the New Year’s Resolution is a cultural phenomenon, most aren’t ready to significantly change their behaviors when they’re expected to make a resolution along with everyone else. Some research also indicates that people simply forget their resolutions after a month.
If you want a fighting chance, consider these research-supported tips to make that resolution stick. Spend 15 minutes a day writing down your personal values. Specify your success, divide it into goals, and then plan how you will achieve them. Share your resolutions with friends and ask them to keep you in check. Reward yourself (not with junk food, of course) for intermittent successes along the way. Finally, keep a symbol of your goal (a picture, piece of clothing, etc.) in your living space as a reminder.
We can’t help you with the ARC, though.
The ASUCD Student Health and Wellness Committee (SHAWC) aims to promote and address important health-related issues on campus. We serve as the liaison between ASUCD and campus health organizations, clubs, and resources. If you have SHAWCing suggestions, questions, or tips, please e-mail us at shawcucd@gmail.com and/or “Like” our Facebook page.
