Many of us set goals in the form of “New Year’s Resolutions” for the incoming year. Whether it be to lose weight, eat healthier, be more successful, or perhaps more active in the community, we often start with a great deal of enthusiasm and motivation only for it to fade away and we fall back into old habits.
The truth is, we often go in “guns blazing” with no real plan to achieve what we want.
Read on to understand why good intentions for the new year rarely succeed and how a Nurse Coach can help guide you into creating realistic goals and achieving them.
Why do New Year’s Resolutions Fail?
Approximately 69 % of all New Year’s Resolutions are abandoned by the beginning of February.
The biggest problem with New Year’s Resolutions is that we want to make huge changes all at once instead of taking small steps to achieve the goal. It’s great to have a big goal in mind, but you can’t climb the tallest mountain in the world in just one day…. There are lot of steps to take and obstacles to hurdle to reach the top.
Here are some other reasons that may keep you from fulfilling your resolution.
Ambivalence: This is having contradictory feelings or outlooks. For example: I would love to lose weight and feel better, but I hate to exercise…. or I enjoy smoking even though I know it’s bad for my health.
Fear of failure: Also known in a clinical sense as atychiphobia, the fear of failure is quite common. This may cause you not want to pursue a well-deserved job promotion or perhaps quit smoking. It acts as the brick wall in life that inhibits you from achieving your best overall health and wellbeing.
Lack of commitment: Simply put: You have not fully bought in to your New Year’s Resolution. For example: I’m going to lose weight this year…. then you get busy at work or in life, grab a bite to eat at a fast-food restaurant and when the day is done, you get home only to sit on the couch and binge watch your favorite television show while thinking you should have gone to the gym instead.
“Why”: It’s essential to have a clear vision of why your goal is important to you. Not having a strong, emotional, empowering “why” will enable you to give up when obstacles get in the way.
Why would you make a resolution at all?
- Is it because it’s a New Year’s tradition?
- Maybe you have hope for a better…. “something”?
- Perhaps it’s as simple as a need for change.
I will have to go with #3. Think about it…. Every goal, every success, every set-back started with change.
Change is hard, especially when you do not have a plan. Why not partner with a Nurse Coach?
How can a Nurse Coach help you succeed?
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How can a Nurse Coach help you succeed?
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The Holistic Nurse Coach takes the whole-person approach meaning the body, mind, spirit, and emotion connection. This connection drives positive change within us.
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She/he will not hand you a “to do” list or instruction pamphlet, but rather guide you in developing an action plan using S.M.A.R.T (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-lined) goals.
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She/He will partner with you and walk along side of you throughout your journey. Of course, there will be obstacles along the way that can slow or stall progress, but that is OK! That’s where the Nurse Coach can help you become unstuck when obstacles or challenges get in the way of achieving your goal.
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The Nurse Coach holds you accountable while cheering you on. She/he is in your corner!
- Should you ask or be offered, she/he would be happy to suggest useful resources and/or tools to help you along your journey.
Regardless of your goal, the structured practice and skills of a nurse coach can help you successful accomplish your New Year’s Resolution.
“Always take the first step. That’s where the journey begins.”
― Echo Bliss
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Lisa is an adult wellness nurse in a family practice by day and a freelance health content writer by night….and Saturday morning. She is passionate about her career because she gets to do what makes her happy, help others and write.
Lisa is still actively involved with her INCA alumni and meets monthly with her cohorts and pursuing her board certification in Nurse Coaching.
