With 2018 here, now comes a common tradition... New Year’s resolutions. Murray State Psychology Professor Dr. Michael Bordieri says as creatures of habit, developing change is one of the hardest things for humans to do. That’s why a majority to fail at keeping their resolutions. He says people tend to focus more on outcomes rather than daily process.
Bordieri says setting smaller goals can make it easier to stick with a resolution for the entire year.
“So I think that’s the first focus. Getting away from outcomes which are wonderful, we’re focused on them all the time on our job, career, everywhere else, but really thinking more about process. What is it going to look like day to day? What is it you want to do differently in the world each day.”
Bordieri says social media and apps that can track progression can also help people stick to their resolutions.
“We want to set big lofty goals and that’s great we want to see big changes in our life. But often time the major changes in our start from very small things. W hen you plant a tree it doesn’t start as a big powerful oak, it starts as a little seed in the ground. And that’s what we’re trying to do when we make behavioral changes in our life.”
