LifeTip: On Groundhog Day and New Years Resolutions

“There’s two main lines of brain and behavior science that influence New Year’s resolutions: The science of habits and the science of self-stories.”

It’s that time of year folks. The time where the lofty resolutions of the new year have given way to the realities of everday life, when old routines sink in again and we find ourselves feeling let down and frustrated. Maybe you remember all the times you've set goals for the new year only to find that by Groundhog Day, it's déjà vu all over again, and you're back to square one.

Maybe it isn't you. Maybe it's actually that New Years Resolutions just dont work! Psychology Today has shared some tips on how to align your resolutions, any time of year, with science to set you up for success when you want to make a change that lasts. The first part is a 3-step method to changing a habit thats based in brain science:

• You must pick a small action.
• You must attach the new action to a previous habit.
• You must make the new action easy to do for at least the first week.

Essentially, you’ll be creating a new conditioned response that will allow for a better chance at long-term change. Lasting change also requires new actions that align with your self-story, that narrative that we all have about who we are, what we are capable of, what our limitations are, and what matters to us. Check out the full article for more tips and let’s agree to leave unattainable resolutions in the past and set our collective sights on small, manageable and meaningful changes in the coming year!