New research from CBD brand Love Hemp has revealed that 1,060 out of 2,001 Brits surveyed have already broken their resolutions.
Love Hemp surveyed people to find out how many Brits have already broken their New Year’s resolutions. Surprisingly, the survey revealed that 53% of participants didn’t actually make a resolution suggesting Brits are tired of the ‘New Year, New Me’ convention.
Speaking on the reasons behind Brits’ decision to avoid making big promises for 2022, Love Hemp founder, Tony Calamita said: ‘There’s a lot of pressure on us when it comes to the New Year and making big lifestyle changes, many of which we’re unable to keep. This might be why so many of us broke tradition this year and decided against resolutions which, for many, inevitably lead to feelings of guilt and shame when we’re unable to stick to them.’
The survey also highlighted a significant age split between those who did and didn’t declare their good intentions for 2022.
It’s the over 65s that was the age demographic least likely to make New Year’s resolutions and the group least likely to keep their resolutions. Conversely, the younger demographics were more likely to make a new years resolution and more likely to stick with it.
According to University of Sheffield psychology expert, Professor Fuschia Sirois, abandoning our resolutions: ‘Akin to giving up on positive changes, and it’s this pressure that can drive us to try to keep these resolutions.’
‘If you give in one day and have a biscuit if you’re on a sugar-ban and view this as breaking your resolution rather than as a temporary lapse, then the feelings of guilt from this may drive you to abandon the goal and then indulge further,’ she explains.
Behavioural science professor Ivo Vlaev agrees that an element of pressure surrounds our resolutions. ‘We make resolutions in order to reduce feelings of guilt and anxiety about our overindulgence over the festive period, which also serves as a reminder we need to get back in shape in general,’ he suggests.
Health, diet and fitness have topped the list of resolutions for the third year in a row, according to a YouGov’s poll, with 49% surveyed deciding on more exercise as their main goal for the new year. A recent Statista poll also showed that 20% of respondents planned to cut down on alcohol this January in order to take a break after festive celebrations.
Olivia, 31 from Sheffield has already given up on Dry January after vowing to commit to it: ‘My New Year’s resolution was to cut down on alcohol. By the end of the first week, the news was so bleak and the weather was so miserable I popped open a bottle of Prosecco on a Friday night as a treat. I’m having more of a damp January than a wet one now. January is tough enough and a glass of fizz on a Friday to toast the end of a working week makes the month more bearable.’
Marian, a 40-year-old celebrity personal stylist from London, knows the feeling, said: ‘My resolution was to go vegan, so animal products or any type of meat or fish. My resolution lasted all of one day. By the second day of the year, I had Turkey stew and completely broke my resolution.’
To help reduce anxiety around already broken resolutions, Love Hemp has selected some healthy strategies for succeeding in goals, long-term.
Decide what a healthier lifestyle means to you, long-term
‘Focus on your stepping stones that are easier to reach,’ suggests Professor Sirois. ‘Start to exercise once a week for the first month, and then slowly increase this rate next month. This is preferable to say that you want to exercise four times a week right from the start, which is a tall order that will likely lead to lapses and abandoning your resolution.’
Set a smartphone timer to keep you on track
Professor Vlaev recommends using a ticking clock as motivation. ‘Once the timer runs out every 60 minutes, take your cue to move around, drink some water, or grab a healthy snack,’ he adds.
Practise self-compassion
‘This means treating ourselves with the same kindness, acceptance, and understanding that we would show a good friend or family member who was struggling with their goal, rather than being judgemental or harshly self-critical,’ she suggests.
‘Most importantly, being self-compassionate involves recognising that mistakes, lapses, and struggles are part of the human condition.’
For more advice on dealing with broken New Year’s resolutions, head over to Love Hemp.
