We love good resolutions. 80% of French people admit to setting themselves challenges on January 1st. But these New Year’s commitments generally have a short life: 80% (again) of resolutions are cowardly abandoned even before the month of February. So how do we do it?
It seems that the transition to the new year gives us the opportunity to be “reborn”. After the two extraordinary years that we experienced (the American magazine Time even headlined that 2020 was “ the worst year in history“), we all need it!
The top 3 good resolutions
In 2021, a survey* shed light on the hopes and ambitions of our compatriots for a new year, and it is very instructive.
If doing more sport (51%) and eating a balanced diet to lose weight (38%) continue to occupy the first two places in the list of things to improve, the priorities of the French have evolved since the pandemic and the episodes of confinement.
The will to sleep better or spend more time with loved ones now comes after that of travel more (29%) or even change professional situation. Some good resolutions like quitting drinking have almost disappeared from the radar.
To encourage you to evolve smoothly, we offer you this free guide which offers you 22 simple ideas to improve your lifestyle habits and take care of yourself.
You are the most important person in YOUR life, right? This free 30-page guide is the ideal companion to start 2022 off right!
Click here to receive it immediately
Nothing radical (we know that “good resolutions” have a ridiculous success rate), just suggestions to calmly focus on your shape, your health and your quality of life. No pressure, just to pay (a little more) attention to you.
Small steps to take care of yourself
All the small steps that we offer you are relatively modest. But if you implement them gradually, at your own pace, throughout the year, you can become a new person.
The one that will be closer to the ideal image you have of yourself. It’s worth it, right?
Do more sport, lose 10 kilos or stop smoking, these are the resolutions that French people usually make at the start of each year. Hey yes, 80% of our fellow citizens admit to challenging themselves on January 1st.
But these New Year’s “good resolutions” generally have a short life: 80% (again) of resolutions are cowardly abandoned even before the month of February.
In addition to the three major resolutions mentioned, the desire to sleep more now ranks in the top-5, while the decision to drink less alcohol comes far behind with only 7% of people concerned.
Why good resolutions fail
Good resolutions fail because they are often too vague or, conversely, too ambitious.
Undertake several major changes at the same time important and radical in life (running a marathon, improving your sleep, stopping sugar, losing 15 kg, starting your business, etc.), it’s way too much.
If these “good resolutions” don’t work, how can we hope to boost our health capital to live in better shape in the coming months?
What if we instead tried a series of small changesless restrictive and easier to maintain over time?
In our 2022 guide, we present to you a series of health actions that can integrate easily to your usual lifestyle.
These small changes may not seem like much, but when linked together, they will have real impacts on your life. Better still, they will be favorable to your well-being.
No need to make big resolutions this year to take charge of your healthjust take these small steps and you will slowly move towards a better quality of life.
How to stay the course?
Before adopting these health actions that will have a significant impact on your life this year, you must first transform them into concrete and measurable objectives.
For example, if you decide to “eat a more balanced diet”, this seems concrete to you at first, but is it really “measurable”? What does this correspond to concretely in your eyes?
Will you:
- Buy a nutritionist’s book to follow your food program?
- Make an appointment every month with a dietician?
- Bring a healthy lunch to work every day rather than going to the canteen?
- Force yourself to eat the five “regulatory” portions of fruit and vegetables?
- Stop having a sweet dessert with every meal?
- Cooking yourself every evening?
- Stop buying ultra-processed frozen meals?
Yes, what does “eating a more balanced diet” mean to you?
The first health gesture to respect is therefore to clearly define the final objective (there may be several), but also the different ways to get there and how to measure the results.
For example, you can make a list of good eating practices and give yourself a point for each time you follow one. The objective is then to see if your total points progresses over the weeks and months.
This type of device will help you ensure that you stay on course towards the goal throughout the year.
* BuzzPress France survey for Gymlib among 10,602 French people (December 2020)
** Annual Health Record barometer produced by Odoxa for the MNH, France Info and Le Figaro Santé (December 2019).
