The good news is that a survey from Liberro indicates that we, as a nation, are getting better at achieving change!
Previous research states that within four weeks the majority of us will have given up our New Year’s resolutions; in fact for 25% it takes less than one week to surrender* and the average dieter will give in to old habits after just 15 days!**
But fear not, a new survey*** commissioned by leading electronic cigarette brand, Liberro, indicates that 2012 is already proving to be a great year for change in the UK!
A whopping 45% of those surveyed at the close of last month were proud to announce that they had kept to ‘all, or some’ of their 2012 New Year’s resolutions, and 47% of them are more confident this year than in the past that they will succeed!
Clinical Psychologist, Dr Adam Orchard, commented, “The Liberro survey supports the general trend that we are getting much better at conquering our personal goals.
We know that people are more likely to stick to their resolutions if they have social support, and in today’s connected world this is easier than ever before because even if you are not physically close to friends and family, you can be in constant communication with them via online social networks.
This will inevitably help success rates – when you are feeling tempted to give in you simply update your status and sit back to receive words of encouragement from your online community. Likewise, when you report on successes you will benefit from a proverbial pat on the back with people ‘like’-ing your progress reports and sending positive comments.”
So is the internet making us a stronger, more determined nation?
44% of those whom Liberro questioned agreed that using the support of friends and family via social networking groups, such as Facebook and Twitter, does make it easier to stick to New Year’s resolutions. In fact, 40% of those surveyed are themselves benefiting from this support net.
What were our Top 10 Resolutions for 2012?
No great surprise to see ’losing weight’ in the number one position of the 2012 Top New Year’s resolutions chart, followed by ’eating healthier’ foods and then ’exercise’. ’Quit smoking’ took fourth place and the following all made it within the top ten good intentions: ’improve social relations’; ‘spend less money’; ‘get a new job’ and ‘learn a language’.
Women are more likely to make a resolution than men but less likely to stick to their guns. When listing resolutions that have been tried and failed over the years, ‘eating healthier’ topped the list and nearly a third (31%) of those who have tried to ‘quit smoking’ in the past did not succeed. ‘Going to the gym’; ‘cutting back alcohol’; ‘be more understanding towards others’; ‘stop complaining’ and ‘have more fun’ also made the top ten list of previous resolution failures.
How are we changing our approach to change?
Dr Orchard explains: “Traditionally New Year’s resolutions fail because people aim too high.
Expecting to lose 7lb per week would be unrealistic, as well as questionable in terms of your health! Smoking quitters who put pressure on themselves to go from twenty a day to zero, are far less likely to succeed than those who take smaller, more achievable steps.”
90% of all surveyed agree that ‘making small changes to achieve my goal is more effective than making dramatic changes’ and 44% agree that ’switching to tar-free electronic cigarettes sounds more appealing than giving up smoking altogether’.
Dr Orchard comments: ”One way to reduce the harmful effects of tobacco smoking and achieve your ‘quit smoking’ resolution is to begin by substituting just one traditional cigarette per day with a Liberro e-cigarette. This can gradually be increased over time until you have given up smoking tobacco cigarettes for good.
“People are beginning to realise that small steps do lead to big change. Breaking down your goal into achievable steps is a much more effective approach to achieving real change in your life than attempting to make a drastic transformation.
“If you alter your life too dramatically you will automatically struggle to adjust and immediately find yourself too far outside your comfort zone. Making a small adjustment then waiting until you have fully adapted and feel totally comfortable before making another is a much more effective strategy. It allows you to be accustomed to the new you at each stage of transition.
“Encountering a setback is one of the most common reasons why people give up on their New Year’s Resolutions. If you suddenly relapse into a bad habit, don’t view it as a failure. The path towards your goal is not a straight one, and there are always going to be challenges. Instead, view relapses as learning opportunities.
And remember, when you start to make change that works, you will benefit from more than just the benefits the change itself brings. There are various psychological and emotional benefits to achieving goals that you set for yourself – you become empowered to build confidence in all aspects of your life and it reminds you that you are the one in control of your life.”
Dr Orchard’s Top Tips for Sticking to New Year’s Resolutions
- Make smaller changes rather than dramatic ones.
- Enlist the support of your friends and family, even if it’s only online.
- Announce your intentions and resolutions to others, it helps you stay accountable.
- Visualise your success and a positive outcome; focus on the benefits that change will bring. It’s a well-known principle that what you think about you will bring about. So resist the temptation to focus on what you are missing out on. This is why having a substitute is always a more effective way to give something up as you can focus on that rather than what you have lost.
- Set clear goals for yourself with a definite time frame.
- Keep a resolution diary and write down important information about if and when relapses occur and what might have triggered them. By understanding the challenges you face, you will be better prepared to deal with them in the future.
- Reward yourself for your achievements every step of the way.
So make 2012 the year of real change and get ready to welcome a brand new you!
source:
* Journal of Clinical Psychology (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jclp.1151/abstract)
*** Independent research survey conducted by Adroit-e Research, results released today (21.2.12)
Julia Girling
Press Officer, Liberro
Tel: 07889 813334
Email: julia@liberro.co.uk
Emma Christou
Managing Director, Liberro
Tel: 07794 6000064
Email: emma@liberro.co.uk
Notes to editors
Liberro is a leading UK electronic cigarette company that sells disposable electronic cigarettes, starter packs, liquids and consumables through the internet (www.liberro.co.uk).
Electronic cigarettes are a healthier alternative to cigarettes and provide a satisfying nicotine hit, without tar or tobacco, carbon monoxide or additional chemicals found in traditional cigarettes. They can be smoked in the office, car, home or bar because they don’t give off harmful chemicals and they don’t smell like traditional cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes are around 70% cheaper than smoking traditional cigarettes.
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