Preventive Medicine: New Year's Resolutions Take Planning

Summary

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The New Year's resolution is a time-honored tradition. Ancient Romans often sought forgiveness from enemies; the Babylonians often vowed to return borrowed farm equipment. However the Babylonians and Romans may have fared, we tend to do rather poorly in making modern resolutions stick. Most sources indicate that fewer than half survive past February, and at least one study suggests that less than 20 percent have a lifespan of two years or more.

To some extent, this poor performance is a by-product of the tradition itself. While we all make New Year's resolutions, there is no reason to think we should all be comparably ready to make lasting behavior change at the same time. The science of behavior modification emphasizes, among other things, the importance of readiness for change. The New Year's resolution tends to be a "ready or not" kind of venture.

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Extract

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Preventive Medicine: New Year's Resolutions Take Planning

To increase the likelihood that your resolution will have lasting value, assess your preparation. Are you truly motivated to make a lastin...

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