Don’t be SMART with your New Year’s Resolutions

Jan. 13, 2015 - PRLog -- Media Release

Tuesday 13 January 2015

The failure of New Year’s resolutions for 2015 will be just as prevalent as 2014 if changes aren’t made.

This is according to Weight Loss Expert Sally Symonds who believes there are no surprises that people approach this time of year with mixed feelings of both excitement and trepidation.

“Around 50% of Australians make a New Year’s resolution, but these have a failure rate of 88%***” advises Sally.  “It’s no wonder resolutions have become a token process rather than a tool for success.”

But all is not lost according to Sally, who advises that perhaps we just need to ‘change the game’ a little.  And this means steering away from the hype of SMART goals.  SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely.

According to Sally, specific goals are self-limiting, measurable goals can prevent you from enjoying the process, achievable goals limit you to only aiming for what you hope or think you can achieve, realistic goals set you up for a profound sense of failure if you don’t meet them and timely goals falsely inform you that success has an end date.

‘Why not try something different,” says Sally.  “One of my favourites is to use DUMB Goals.”

DUMB stands for Dreamy, Unrealistic, Motivating and Bold which Sally says is not a bad idea, and a process which can be very liberating.

“What I actually do is don’t set myself goals at all in any conventional sense of the word,” says Sally.  “I make small changes to improve each and every day but allow myself some leeway.”

“For example, consider that a step-by-step approach to weight loss is just as effective as the traditional ‘all or nothing’ approach.  100% effort x 3 weeks = 300% results, 80% effort x 5 weeks = 400% results and 25% effort x 25 weeks = 625% results.

Sally advises, “If you do something for 25 weeks and continue that approach forever, you have made a lifestyle change and barely noticed.  A step-by-step approach makes things easier to handle, and helps you make lasting changes while sustaining your interest in the task at hand.  Always leave yourself wanting more; that way, you’ll keep coming back again and again and be more and more successful.”

For further information please contact:

Sally Symonds

0417 727 326

Sally Symonds is one of Australia’s highest profile leading health and fitness experts.  A published author of three weight loss books and motivational speaker, Sally is also the founder of a revolutionary 26 week system utilising unique and proven strategies, Love Your Weight Loss, which is available now through her website www.sallysymonds.com.au

*** According to a 2007 survey of over 3,000 people conducted by the British psychologist Richard Wiseman.