Many people use the new year as an opportunity to reset, reassess and tackle their goals with a new mindset. However, if there's even a tiny shred of doubt in their resolve or things don't go as planned, they tend to give up. That's led to the second Friday of every January being called Quitters Day. However, if you've found yourself on the verge of throwing in the towel -- or you already have -- don't worry.
Contrary to some discouraging headlines, sticking to your resolutions and meeting your goals isn't impossible or even improbable, and you can start over at any time. But as a general rule, viewing your wants as "goals" may be more beneficial than "resolutions," said Candice Seti, a psychologist, personal trainer and nutrition coach. This is because humans tend to do pretty well with goals, so long as you have the right approach and set them for the right reasons.
"It's so important to approach New Year's resolutions through the same lens we approach goal-setting," Seti said.
Goals are not only fun to have -- they're imperative to what keeps us moving in life. So whether it's a fitness goal, a new wellness standard or hitting the next milestone in your creative passion, here's what Seti and other experts say about working with your own psychology to achieve your New Year's resolution.
The new year is a great time to reassess, plan and challenge yourself. Jena Ardell/Getty Images
1. Find the deeper reason for your goal
Just like the main character in a movie, you need to find your "want" in order for your resolution to be effective. Seti calls this "revisiting the whys." Why do you want to lose weight? Why do you want to eat healthier? (As a spoiler alert, it's almost never about the weight, and it's almost never about the food.)
"Weight loss is not the goal," Seti said. "The weight loss is the vehicle to get to the goal."
To unpack your goal of losing X number of pounds, for example, explore the reasons why you want to. Do you think you'll feel better? Do you think it'll make you feel more energized? Will you smile more when you get more energy?
What about your reasons for quitting drinking?
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