Basic Pursuits

Yesterday was "Death of the Diet Day." Yesterday was the day when more people gave up the diets that they started New Years than on any other day of the year. This according to a survey by Britain's PruHealth.

I learned this from an article by the BBC. The article pointed out that one of the reasons is that people tend to behave as a herd. One person quits. She's seen by another who quits too. And on and on.

This brings up a really important component of habit: the crowd you run with. In any habit change plan, you must consider the effects of those around you on you and the change that you are trying to make. How will I feel not smoking with my friends? How will I handle telling my beer-drinking buddies that I'm going to work out during happy hour?

The herd is not an insurmountable obstacle. It's just one that we all have to consider in our planning to avoid being tripped up.

The article also offered some good general advice.

When a person's level of commitment to a goal is relatively weak, it is best for that person to focus their attention and continually point out to themselves how much progress they have already made toward their goals.

In contrast, if a person's level of commitment to a goal is relatively strong, the researchers found it was more productive for them to focus their attention on how much remains to be done to accomplish their goals.

So what can we do to ensure that we will keep our long term commitment going and not be unduly influenced by Death of a Diet Day?

 

• If we feel our commitment is weakening then we should focus our attention on what we have achieved so far and remind ourselves of all the great progress we have already made that would be lost if we gave up now.
• Writing down and then carrying out small actionable goals that we have no excuses for incorporating into our busy day can help too. A session at the gym, getting off the bus a stop early and walking the rest of way are good examples.
• Telling other people about your commitments, sharing them with a supportive friend and surrounding yourself with people who are also making long term commitments should help too.
• Avoid those who use concepts like a "Death of a Diet Day" as the perfect excuse to admit defeat.

Stick to that resolution. Oh yes you will