New Year, New Goals
We start each new year with new plans, hopes, and goals. But how much do we delay and how much can we achieve? Dr. Duygu Taşfiliz from Altınbaş University explained the reasons behind motivation and demotivation.
Every new year, we enter with new plans, fresh hopes, and new goals. The beginning of a new year is a period filled with the desire to set goals and initiate change for many of us. With the new year comes the excitement of new possibilities and aspirations for change. So, how much of these desires can we actually implement? Why do we often prefer waiting instead of taking immediate action? Dr. Duygu Taşfiliz, Director of the Psychology Application and Research Center (APAM) at Altınbaş University, evaluated the motivations behind choices and the reasons for lack of motivation.
Dr. Duygu Taşfiliz, a faculty member at Altınbaş University, highlighted that at the beginning of the new year, almost everyone sets significant goals for themselves, but often fails to implement them due to various excuses. She attributed the fundamental reason for this to not having a real plan for life, except for unexpected developments.
Taşfiliz stated, "In the new year, we should be kind to ourselves, set achievable and realistic goals. Moreover, it is crucial to remember that the new year provides a significant opportunity to appreciate the value of close relationships and enhance the commitment between individuals."
According to Dr. Taşfiliz, we are willing, but we cannot make plans to achieve our goals.
Referring to the fact that individuals often prefer a turning point to change their lives, Taşfiliz said, "The beginning of a new year is one of the most popular temporal turning points. The sense of a new beginning created by the new year as a turning point increases people's focus on their goals and their desire to make positive changes in their lives."
Taşfiliz pointed out that, according to research, the sense of a new beginning created by these special days also increases the likelihood of following through with goals. She stated, "The probability of starting something new or quitting something we are already doing on any given day is lower compared to such turning points. These periods, where hope, motivation, and renewal feelings intensify, leave positive effects on individuals' psychological well-being."
However, Taşfiliz reminded that these periods can be stressful for some individuals, bringing forth feelings of failure and guilt. She said, "For those preparing to implement ambitious New Year resolutions as of January 1, it may be beneficial to review their New Year goals to avoid finding themselves in this familiar scenario at the end of the year. Considering that 80% of our New Year resolutions fail, we can say that our decision-making methods are not quite compatible with how our minds work. The mind is not readily inclined to make significant behavior changes all at once. Humans have the capacity to achieve much less than expected."
Dr. Taşfiliz also provided some important tips for success in achieving goals. According to her, individuals need to set their goals realistically, progress with small steps, and allow flexibility for themselves, which is crucial to making goals realistic. She believes that when excessively high expectations and unattainable goals are set, dealing with stress and feelings of frustration becomes inevitable.
Highlighting research, Taşfiliz said, "Studies show that we can achieve more success in small and measurable goals than in big and abstract goals. Also, taking small steps for both starting something new and quitting habits seems more beneficial than thinking about what we will not do, adopting a mindset where we plan what to do."
Referring to research, Dr. Taşfiliz stated that goals focused on acquiring new behaviors are significantly more successful than goals focused on avoiding behaviors. She mentioned the results of a study and said, "Sharing New Year goals with someone close is quite supportive in achieving those goals. Shaping the environment according to decisions also significantly increases the achievability of goals. Another important factor is flexibility in goals. There are many things in life that are beyond our control. Therefore, when we accept flexibility as a reality of life, it seems more likely that we can follow divided steps. The new year can also be seen as a valuable opportunity for our close relationships, appreciating the time spent together, and increasing the commitment between individuals. Considering the importance of social support in long-term behavior change, investments in relationships and goals will be noteworthy."