The Sight Edge Book Cover

The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson

There is much debate about which date it actually is but it is about this time that if you’re gonna quit, you will.

January 19 has been revealed as the day people are most likely to abandon their New Year’s fitness resolutions, according to new data insights from social fitness network Strava. During January, millions of Brits aim to get fitter, be healthier and try to undo some of the Christmas celebrations.

Research conducted by Strava using over 800 million user-logged activities in 2019 predicts the day most people are likely to give up on their New Year’s Resolution is January 19. (Strava calls it “Quitter’s Day.”)

How are you doing with your New Year resolutions?

 

 

If you’re thinking of quitting or already have – what has made that happen?

Was your goal strong enough?  Did you attach emotion to it? Did you get in touch with the reason you wanted that thing?  Did you want it enough?

Maybe your goal was general – not specific?

Jeff Olson in ‘The Slight Edge’ explains the success curve.  When we are doing the things which will take us to our goal we are on the success curve and when we are not, we are on the failure curve.  If we failed at that moment then we probably would feel differently about it but if your goal doesn’t hit you between the eyes at that moment, then failing is maybe not painful enough.

Take diet.  If you knew you would immediately have a heart attack when you ate a hamburger, you wouldn’t eat one, would you?  But that doesn’t happen.  It’s the slow build-up of fat in the arteries from eating a hamburger every day that would cause such a thing.  So you don’t see the impact of your action at that moment.

If you are struggling to keep going with a goal you have set for yourself then stop, think about why you set yourself that goal in the first place, see yourself achieving it and how you will feel when you achieve it, really get in touch with your reason for doing it.  Then make the choice in that moment to either be on the failure curve and not continue, or on the success curve.  Make a decision at that moment.

At that moment you might realise that your goal isn’t that important to you after all.  You might also find that it’s imperative to your future.

Just a final word on quitting.  Don’t give yourself a hard time if you haven’t kept up your new behaviour.  Words like ‘quitter’ aren’t helpful really.  You might be struggling if your goal is a big one, if it is, break it down into smaller goals and start again.  The past is done you can’t change it but you can change your future.  Give yourself a break and be compassionate with yourself.

You can do that, you can start again.  It’s up to you.

If you’d like some support, call me to book a Discovery Session or click the button below.

Book a Discovery Session