New Year's resolutions & why failure is not a bad thing

The New Year is traditionally a time for new beginnings and fresh resolutions. Whether it's a healthier diet, regular exercise or the pursuit of a balanced life, ambitions are high. But despite our best intentions, many of these resolutions fail. We try to explain why and also why this failure can be part of a larger, positive process.

The challenges of keeping New Year's resolutions:

The difficulty of keeping New Year's resolutions often lies in their nature. Many of us tend to set lofty and sometimes unrealistic goals at the beginning of the year. These resolutions may sound great, but without clear, realistic intermediate goals, initial motivation can quickly fade.

In addition, there is often a lack of a concrete plan on how to achieve these goals. Without a clear strategy, it is easy to lose sight of the big picture. What's more, establishing new habits takes time and patience. We often expect quick results and become impatient when progress is slow.

Another factor that makes it difficult to keep resolutions is everyday stress. Our daily obligations and routines leave little room for anything new, and so we often fall back on familiar patterns instead of cultivating new habits.

The positive aspect of failure:

But failing at New Year's resolutions is not only negative. Every failure is a learning opportunity, a chance to do better next time. Life is dynamic and lifestyle changes must be able to adapt to this dynamic.

One important aspect is self-acceptance - accepting yourself also means recognizing your own limits and not punishing yourself for occasional failures.

5 concrete tips for changes that are here to stay:

1. Realistic goals: Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound goals.
2. Small steps: Start with small, manageable steps and gradually increase them.
3. Seek support: Whether through friends, family or professional help - support can be crucial.
4. Create habits: Change should become part of your daily routine in order to survive in the long term.
5. Self-compassion: Be patient with yourself and recognize that change takes time.

Conclusion: New Year's resolutions are more than just start-of-year phenomena; they are an impetus for positive change. The key to long-term success lies not only in setting realistic goals, but also in building habits and practicing self-compassion. Every small step is progress in the right direction. Get started today.