To Inspire:

New Year’s resolutions are tough. As we’ve discussed here before, more than 90% of resolutions fail – often by the time February rolls around. And while there are some tips and tricks to help stick to a New Year’s resolution, social psychologist Janina Steinmetz says making a summer resolution instead could turn out to be much more effective.

What makes a summer resolution so great? A flexible time frame and a better time of year can help you be successful. According to Steinmetz, “New Year’s comes directly after the winter holiday season, which is often a time where people travel, overeat, overspend, and in general indulge. With this backdrop it’s easy to tell yourself you will never want cake, alcohol, or online shopping again, so it’s easy to overestimate your capability to stick to your healthier or more frugal resolution.”

Three ways a summer resolution might be better:

Summer resolutions have a limited lifespan. No matter how you define summer – Memorial Day to Labor Day, the June 20 summer solstice to the autumnal equinox on September 22, or just as June, July, and August – summer is roughly a three-month period. Committing to a resolution for three months is a lot less daunting than committing to something for an entire year. At the end of three months, you can assess where you are and decide to continue with your new habit, make some adjustments, or stop it altogether.

A summer resolution is easier to keep. If you think about resolutions in general, many involve healthier habits. Healthier eating, weight loss, regular work outs. If you decide to commit to working out three times a week, that’s easier when the weather is warm and beautiful versus cold and snowy. Trying to eat healthier? In summer you can visit the local farm market and enjoy the incredible fresh vegetables available. You’re more likely to just generally be more active when the weather is nicer.

It can be easier to be happier in the summer, and happiness is helpful when we’re trying to keep resolutions or form new habits. It’s easier to stick to a new habit or start a new project when happy. Summer brings more time outdoors, open air festivals, backyard barbeques, and so many other happy-inducing things. If you can stick with your new resolution during this happy time of the year, your brain may begin to associate this changed behavior with happiness, making it easier to keep up once summer is over.

Steinmetz says some rules still apply to make a summer resolution successful. Set yourself up for success. If you resolve to visit the gym three times a week you need to have a gym membership in place and some workout clothes on hand. If you want to cook healthier meals, make sure you’ve researched some recipes and have any kitchen gear you may need. And remember the best advice when thinking about making chanages is to stay realistic and start small to see what works for you.

The summer equinox is next Thursday, June 20, a great time to get started. Give it some thought and consider your own summer resolution!

 

 

 

 

Written by Michelle O’Brien, Manager of Marketing & Communications

 

 

Sources: Zetlin, Minda. Forget New Year’s Resolutions. Try a Summer Resolution Instead, According to a Social Psychology Expert. Inc.com. Steinmetz Phd.D., Janina. Do You Have a Summer Resolution? PsychologyToday.com.