New year resolutions enable individuals to empower themselves, says psychologist

Poor planning is one of the reasons why more than half of New Year resolutions fail, according to experts.

The South African College of Applied Psychology said a study on new year resolutions showed that when it comes to keeping resolution goals, only 77% make it through the first week, while 55% stuck with their goals for a month and 40% made it to six months.

Watch: Markus van der Merwe on new year resolutions

New beginning

Clinical psychologist at the University of the Western Cape Professor Erica Munnik said the new year signifies a new beginning.

“It is a time when people look back at the year that has gone and look at everything they haven’t accomplished. “That usually sets the tone to look at goals for the new year,” she said.

Munnik said resolutions could be behaviour changes or things people wanted the change about themselves or their environment.

“The most important thing about new year resolutions is a way for individuals to be more self-efficient and to empower themselves.

In terms of stats, more than half of the set resolutions usually fail, she said. Munnik said people set new year resolutions too vaguely.

READ MORE: 10 steps to successful new year’s resolutions

Realistic and sustainable

“When you want to lose weight, you don’t think about the targets and smaller manageable sizes,” she said. Munnik said you have to be more realistic and sustainable.

“It’s a good thing to have new year resolutions but they must be specific, measurable, obtainable, realistic and timely.

“It’s also not about what the resolution is, but why. New year resolutions are not easy and are usually difficult to accomplish,” she said.

Psychologist Lloyd Bemelman said people made resolutions when they wanted to better themselves. “Resolutions are made when people feel bad about themselves.

People won’t make a resolution when they are doing well. People don’t set goals to save money when they have lots, it’s usually when there isn’t enough.

“When they feel overweight, they set a resolution to lose weight,” he explained.

NOW READ: How to keep those New Year’s resolutions

Brain is a road map

Bemelman said the brain was like a road map. “If you do everything over and over it’s like a highway, but when you start something new, it is like travelling on a dirt road,” Bemelman added.

Markus van der Merwe said he didn’t believe in setting new year resolutions. “I believe each day is a new beginning to do good.

I don’t believe in the new year, the new me,” he said. Van der Merwe said it was pointless to only set goals once a year.

“It’s not about that one thing you do once a year to change, but rather about what you put in every day,” he said. Van der Merwe said he tried to better himself daily instead of setting a resolution.

But Kade van Eck said making resolutions was good for self-improvement. “We should do it more often. I don’t have a specific resolution at this moment but my goal is to work on my financial security,” he said.

ALSO READ: Daily hacks: Tips to help you keep your New Year’s resolutions

– marizkac@citizen.co.za