Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions Using This Simple Technique

You’re not alone. Only 8% of people succeed in keeping their New Year’s resolutions. That means if you’re in a room with 100 people who made resolutions, only 8 of them will succeed.

Seems dire for you, right?

But keeping a resolution is easier than you think. There’s one technique that psychologists and counselors advocate to help keep resolutions.

Make it simple

Yes, just make your resolutions simple. As in, not complex. You’re much more likely to keep them and they work as stepping stones you to keep bigger goals.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Isn’t ‘Lose 20 lbs in 2 months’ a simple resolution? That’s not easy to keep.”

No. It’s a simple sentence. But it’s not a simple resolution.

Unpack that resolution. To lose weight you need to eat better and exercise more. And there are several books and websites dedicated to those two subjects. When multiple steps are involved, it’s no longer simple.

A simple resolution related to losing weight is, “I will take the stairs instead of the elevator when I get to work.”

Why simple resolutions are the best resolutions

Simple resolutions are the best resolutions because they:

• Are realistic- It’s hard to be unrealistic when you’ve broken down your resolution to one simple thing.
• Are easier to start—and finish- When people think about complex resolutions, they realize how many steps they need to take and procrastinate. Simple resolutions are easier to start. Once you start, you’re more likely to keep up with them due to the Zeigarnik effect where we tend to finish things we start. So just get started!
• Give you more motivation- Simple resolutions are easy to accomplish, giving you a “small win.” Small wins give your brain a spritz of dopamine, a feel-good chemical that’s linked with motivation. So simple resolutions help you keep motivated to keep going.
• Help you achieve bigger goals- When you want to achieve a big goal, a counselor would suggest you break it down into smaller, simpler sub-goals. Making simple resolutions works that logic in reverse. You create smaller, simpler goals that can snowball into your larger goals. Taking the stairs can lead to running more, which can lead to other exercise related activities.

Are there other ways to help you keep resolutions? Sure. But will you remember them all? Probably not.

But do you know what you will remember?

Make it simple.

One simple way to lower your energy bills

Saving money/spending less is the third most common new year’s resolution. No surprise there. Everyone wants more green in their bank account.

So,0 what’s one simple new year’s resolution for spending less on energy bills?

Here’s our simple suggestion for a resolution: Change your air conditioner’s air filter at least every 3 months.

We picked this one because it’s simple and has a bigger impact on your energy bills than you realize.

According to ENERGY STAR:

“A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.”

Start this resolution now by creating a reminder on your phone so you won’t forget.

Want more money-saving energy efficiency tips? Check out the rest of our blog.

Cool Today provides award-winning air conditioning service to Sarasota, Florida and the surrounding areas like Bradenton, Tampa and Port Charlotte. If you have any questions, 6 talk to one of our experts for help.

Posted in: Tips