The 4 Stages of Change to Make Your Resolutions Stick.
According to Forbs Magazine- they estimate more than 40% of Americans—make New Year’s resolutions.
But it takes knowing what you want to
accomplish, figuring out the steps to get there- and then MOST importantly-
taking action.
If you have trouble keeping your New Year’s resolutions,
you may benefit from taking a more scientific approach.
In the late 1970s, researchers studying the experiences of
smokers to learn why some were able to quit on their own and others needed
further treatment found that people move through varying degrees of readiness
when changing behavior. Initiatives that don’t match the correct stage of
change will be ineffective, because the person will not be ready for it.
By identifying where you are in the process and what you
can do to reach the next stages, you increase your chances of sticking to your
healthy resolutions.
Precontemplation: You’re not
ready for a change.Yet!!
If there’s things you want to change (such as a poor diet
or sedentary lifestyle), one of your first questions is probably, “How did it
get to this point?” Likely it’s because you didn’t see them as a problem at the
time. That’s where people in this stage are.
It sometimes takes an epiphany, such as a health scare or
personal issue, to move out of this stage. If you’re reading this ad, though,
you are likely at one of the steps below.
Contemplation: You’re open
to the idea of changing, but are not immediately ready to prepare to take
action.
Change is often slow and difficult. It’s easy to find
excuses and justifications that prevent us from moving forward with change. For
instance, we tell ourselves that we should get more exercise, but we don’t the
time to make it happen right now.
If you’re in this stage, remind yourself of how changing
your behavior will benefit your life. Try writing out a list or taking a
self-assessment to get off the fence.
Preparation: You’re taking
steps to change behavior.
Once you decide for sure that you’re going to change, you
need to get ready to do it. The more you plan for success, the better your
chances will be. This is the stage that usually get the most focus and
attention. These are where the diet plans and gym memberships come in.
There are several best practices for this stage. Make SMART goals.
Focus on small changes that can have a positive impact. Identify and eliminate
barriers that get in the way. And gather support from family and friends.
Action: You’ve
implemented your plan.
Congratulations. You’ve taken your first step toward the
new you. Many people like to choose a specific date and time to begin the
action stage. That helps make it a commitment in our minds.
Now you have to keep at it until your actions become
behaviors. According to the researchers, the action stage lasts for about three
months before moving into the final stage.
I hope this helps you and guides you to where you want to be
in life…but remember happiness is a decision. So no matter where you find yourself in life- decide to be happy there!
