Top 10 reasons why most new year's resolutions commonly fail | How to succeed and Avoid the Odds

It is our chance to start fresh like a new baby. We get in the car and rush to join the gym (again) while setting some great New Year's resolutions for our body and our business, thinking to ourselves, this is it, this is my new year of success, prosperity and happiness.

A lot of people have great resolution ideas to achieve their goals, like automatic bank transfers for saving money and a new smartwatch to help with weight loss. However, statistics show that only 12 percent of people ever achieve their New Year's resolutions and break free from their bad habits. This means that about 156 million people will probably give up on their "New Year" resolutions.

I believe that New Year's resolutions not only do not work but can make matters worse. The following are some reasons why I have this believe and a few tips of what you should do instead. I chose to focus on weight loss, but these principles can be applied to just about any goals you think of - make them work for you!

1. You are treating a marathon like a sprint

Slow and steady habit change might not be easy to maintain, but it is a lot more effective than the "I want it ALL and I want it NOW!" mentality. Small changes stick better because they are not intimidating. If you do it right, you will barely even notice them, but they are right there! Just give it some time.

2. You do not believe in yourself

A failure to act can cripple you before you leave the starting line! If you have tried (and failed) to set a New Year’s resolution (or several) in the past, I know it might be hard to believe in yourself.

3. You put the cart before the horse

“Supplementing!” a crappy diet is stupid, so do not even think about it. Focus on the actions that produce the overwhelming amount of results. If it is not important, don’t worry about it.

4. Too much thinking, not enough doing

The best self-help book in the world cannot save you if you fail to take action. Yes, seek inspiration and knowledge, but only as much as you can realistically apply to your life. If you can put just one thing you learn from every book or article you read or from every video you watched, into practice, you will be on the fast track to success.

5. You don't enjoy the process

Is it any wonder people struggle with their weight when they see eating as a chore and exercise as a dreadful bore? The best fitness plan is one that causes the least interruption to your daily life. The goal isn’t to add stress to your life, but rather to remove it.

6. You are in too much of a hurry

If it was quick-and-easy, everybody would do it. As you strive for your goals, you may become impatient in the process. Perhaps you are not seeing signs of progress, or at least not as fast as you previously expected.

7. You are trying too hard

Unless you want to experience some nasty cravings, do not deprive your body of pleasure.

8. You do not track your progress

Keeping a written record of your training progress will help you sustain an, “I CAN do this” attitude.

9. You have no social support

It can be hard to stay motivated when you feel alone. The good news? You are not alone: far from it. Post a status on Facebook asking your friends if anybody would like to be your gym or accountability buddy. If you know a co-worker who shares your goal, try to coordinate your lunch time and go out together so you will be more likely to make positive decisions. Join a support group of like-minded folks on Facebook, LinkedIn, or elsewhere on the internet. Strength in numbers is powerful, so use it to your advantage.

10. You know your what but you do not know your "WHY"

The biggest reason why most New Year’s resolutions fail: you know what you want but, you do not know why you want it. In fact, this is the only reason why we fail at almost anything in life. Whatever it is you are doing, or want to do, if you do not know "why" you are doing it, I promise you, you are going to fail at it.

Yes: you want to get fit, lose weight, or be healthy… but why is your goal important to you? For example:

Do you want to be fit so you can be a positive example that your children can admire and look up to?

Do you want to lose fat so you will feel more confident in your body than ever before?

Do you want to be healthy so you will have increased clarity, energy, and focus that would carry over into every single aspect of your life?
What matters most to you at this present time?

Whether you are getting in shape because you want to live longer, be a good example, boost your energy, feel confident, have an excuse to buy new clothes, or increase your likelihood of looking more attractive, it is up to you. Forget about any preconceived notions and be true to yourself.

The more specific you can make your goal,
The more vivid it will be in your imagination,
The more encouraged you will be,
The more likely it is you will succeed (because yes, you GOT this!)