Breaking habits is hard

Resolutions are difficult.

Change is hard for anyone, and creating new habits pose a challenge for even the most committed souls.

Everyone struggles with the pang as a new year approaches to do some soul-searching, shed old habits and set new goals. Some will actually put a few to paper. Others will announce their intentions out loud in hopes of creating accountability.

According to usa.gov, the most popular resolutions repeatedly are:

• Lose weight

• Volunteer to help others

• Quit smoking

• Get a better education

• Get a better job

• Save money

• Get fit

• Eat healthy food

• Manage stress

• Manage debt

• Take a trip

• Reduce, reuse and recycle

• Drink less alcohol.

Sadly, few of us realize our resolutions. Some may not make it through the day, let alone the week.

Professor Richard Wiseman, who penned “59 Seconds,” a book on the science of self-help, tracked more than 700 people as they tried to keep their New Year’s resolutions. Only 12 percent were successful. Most failed within a week or two. Some made it a few months. But over time the impulse to eat, smoke or skip the gym returned.

Experts suggest we break bigger goals into more reasonable, measurable smaller goals and adjust accordingly.

After years of struggling with broken promises, I’ve found the surest resolution is cutting myself some slack. Rather than spending a week committed to change and 357 days beating myself up for falling short, I resolve simply to do better today than I did yesterday. It’s the same resolution I’ve kept for several years and it hasn’t failed me yet. Here’s hoping your wishes for 2015 bode as well. Happy New Year.