5 reasons why new year resolutions don’t work and how to successfully craft yours

“New year, new me” is a quote most people decide to adopt, seeing the new year as a signal to improve themselves. But are you one of those people who brings forward your previous year’s unfulfilled resolutions? Here, we list a few reasons why your goals for the new year haven’t worked the way you had hoped for.

1. Not specific

A new year’s resolution is ultimately a goal and when it comes to setting goals, not being specific is one of the biggest yet common mistake one makes. Let’s take “save money” for example. Having a new year’s resolution with no clear steps on how to make it happen is bound to be less successful. To save money with specific planning, you could perhaps decide to put aside a higher fixed percentage of income monthly. It may sound simple but breaking down your goals and having clear steps on reaching them, with a time element, is crucial. As people always say, your goals should be SMART, with the S standing for specific.

2. Negative framing

Needless to say, we take the new year as a chance to better ourselves. We often identify the areas we are lacking in, or doing “wrong” and set resolutions to correct and improve them. Having a positive frame on your goal helps to improve your attitude towards them as well, making it easier. If your goal is to be healthier and consume less junk food, instead of “I will not eat fast food”, which may make you want more of something you think you can’t have, you could aim for “I will eat healthier food like more vegetables each day”, or “I will exercise twice a week to be healthier”.

3. Starting when you’re not ready

The new year is a set indication for when a new chapter begins for everyone. Everyone sets a goal at the same time but what works for one may not work for another. It takes commitment to stick to your resolution and follow through. If you’re not mentally ready to want to make a change, you could probably lose motivation along the way. It may also require planning or resources to begin working on your goal. Starting in January may seem like a refreshing beginning to bettering yourself but if starting in February or whenever you’re ready makes it more productive, do what works for you.

4. Overwhelming goals and being too hard on yourself

Being ambitious with a resolution can be a good thing, but not when it’s unrealistic. As mentioned earlier, it’s important to have specific goals you can reach. New year resolutions are personal goals. Ensure that your goals work for you and are personalised. It may also be tempting to set a goal that your peers have for themselves but you are on your own path with different hurdles. Additionally, if you don’t achieve what you initially set for yourself, you should give yourself some leniency and time to reach them. The journey matters as much as the endpoint.

5. Your goals are a financial burden

Some resolutions we set for ourselves involve a subscription or spending money to maintain. For example, gym memberships or sports. According to a psychology professor, it may even allow us to think that we are heading in the right direction because we believe it’s a bigger commitment we’re making. However, the amount may add up and not be worth it if you’re not disciplined as months pass, damaging your bank account. There could be alternative ways of achieving your goals and it is important to first assess your situation and decide if it will actually be effective for you long-term.

One way to protect your finances and health this new year

Setting your new year resolutions with the five tips in mind could potentially make achieving them much easier. Some of the most common goals people have are related to protecting their finances and health. In fact, one simple way of accomplishing such a goal and incorporating the tips is getting insurance for the year ahead and beyond.

Take FWD Cancer insurance for example. It not only protects your future finances but also makes recovery easier if an unfortunate health incident occurs. It provides 100% payout for all stages of cancer, even early stages. From as low as S$7 a month¹, it doesn’t pose as a financial burden and is easy to commit to. All it takes is one simple health declaration without any medical examination. Easily get an FWD Cancer insurance quote here and get protected within minutes. For exclusive promotions, check out the FWD Exclusive Promotions.

In Singapore, 1 in 4 people may develop cancer in their lifetime². This new year, take the chance to protect yourself financially with Cancer insurance among your other new year resolutions. Visit the FWD website for more insurance that suits your needs too.