How To Word Resolutions You Can Stick To

That depends on how the resolution is worded. But more of that later. This is a futile annual ritual for many. I for one, spend a full year, flouting the very resolution I make at year-end party. I strongly suggest that if you do not like making NYRs (New Year Resolutions) then you need to avoid human contact. To best way to avoid succumbing to temptation, is to stay clear of it. I always overestimate my ability to say “no” when I come face-to-face with any temptation. It is all about peer pressure.One year, at work, when everyone around me was talking about starting something or quitting something, I decided to buck the trend and said that I was planning to not make any NYRs. That got me dirty looks from everyone around. the kind you reserve for someone who plays spoilsport. I am easily bullied. I hurriedly added that I was only joking and proceeded to add that I was going to give up eating fried food for a year. That resolution lasted barely five minutes into the New Year. I was in Delhi that year and it was cold, bloody cold. At midnight the hostess served freshly fried samosas. When the plate was being passed around, my resolve dwindled and I picked up two before I passed on the plate. I tried eating them quickly (refer to illustration) and was hoping no one had noticed. But you know jolly well that when you are doing something wrong, everyone notices. I had just started munching my second samosa when everyone discovered that I was the first one that year to break a resolution. With that said, the  pressure was off, and I spent the rest of the party monopolizing all forms of fried food – guilt free.I have seen people who do a good job of saying "no", but are not that good when it comes to giving approvals. For example, there are people who find it easy to say “no” to chocolates, but find it hard to say “yes” to daily exercise. I always manage to get that ‘yes’ and ‘no’ bit right - but not in that order. The last time I checked, I had said yes to chocolates and no to the exercise routine. Note to self: it is important to decide ahead of time what kind of scenarios will get your nod (and in which direction).I wanted expert advice. What is the secret of sticking to a resolution?I asked my friend, philosopher and guide Rascal Rusty, “Did you know only 8% people succeed in seeing their resolution through? Only 64% people manage to stick to their resolution for more than a month. Is the human race devoid of self control?”“The first step is to write down exactly what you intend to do and how often. Put it in bold letters and stick it on your mirror. We are vain creatures. That is a great place to remind yourself about anything. Step two, is to look at the frequency you set for your new behaviour. Doing something once a month is easier than doing something several times a day. For instance, if you resolve to go to the gym once a year, there is a greater chance that you will succeed in sticking to the resolution than a plan of going to the gym every day. Step three is to make more than one resolution. That increases the probability of success. You will succeed at sticking to at least one of them. Make thirteen resolutions for 2013. Fourteen of them the year after.”This year I have decided to make thirteen resolutions for 2013. There is a much greater chance that I will succeed at sticking to at least one of them. Let me know how many resolutions you are making.--------------------Check out my blog on Times of India