Which New Year's resolutions statistically have a chance of success

Yes, really true, this year I will exercise more. In fact, starting that is, because since I became a mother, I haven't been able to keep up with those Rocycle classes.

Oh, I already know: a little later this year I will quit again. Too tired, too busy, too expensive. That kind of excuses that always work when it comes to exercising. And otherwise, I can always blame my children. No, no, I really can't handle the harsh burn, I have no babysitter. That idea.

Some good resolutions are doomed to fail from the start. About 80 percent of all resolutions made at the beginning of January fail. So what does work? There are resolutions that statistically have a better chance of success. And ‘exercising more’ and ‘losing weight’ are not among them, so.

According to Roos Vonk, professor of psychology at Radboud University Nijmegen, a new plan only works if you package it as something positive. Exercising takes time, energy, and money. You quickly lose interest in that. Take a resolution like saving money for a trip to New York in December this year. That's fun. You want that. And so it becomes easier to set aside some money each month. Research shows that something you want to achieve works better than something you have to give up. And you often make those resolutions out of ‘hot considerations’. That means: after the holidays, you often feel lazy and stuffed, so you want to do something about it. But that's not a good basis for motivation, because that ‘hot’ feeling fades after a week or two. And then you don't care anymore, that kilo more or less.

Take, for example, quitting smoking. You can't suddenly never touch a cigarette again if you think about it after December 31. That doesn't work. What does work is putting the money from your pack of cigarettes into a jar every week and doing something fun with it at the end of the month. That way you reward yourself. And don't want too much at once. Not losing weight, exercising more, never smoking again, and oh yes, also never eating out and shopping because you need to save ten thousand euros.. Come on, 2020 is no fun anymore. Don't make it too difficult for yourself: then the chance is greater that you will throw in the towel faster. So what are good resolutions instead of 'exercising more':.

Concrete, small goals. Taking the stairs at work. Riding your bike on Monday morning. Parking the car a street further so you have to walk longer.

1. Taking a 15-minute walk every day. Everyone should be able to do that.
2. Doing ten squats while brushing your teeth.
3. Planking for a minute before you take a shower.
4. Following a fixed lesson for one hour every week.
5. Signing up for a team sport: then you have to.
6. Not smoking during the week. Allowing yourself to smoke at a party.
7. Eating vegan on Mondays and Tuesdays.
8. Being allowed to shop once a month.
9. Putting a book next to your couch or bed so you grab that faster than your Netflix.
10. Putting the candy jar further away than next to you on the couch.
11. a girl sitting on the bed with a book.