Resolutions Ring in Results | Whole Life Times — Los Angeles Holistic Health Magazine

Making New Year’s resolutions might seem like another annual letdown if you break your promises to yourself, but research suggests they sometimes work. In a 2012 study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, scientists compared success rates of people who made New Year’s resolutions to people who decided to change a problem at a later time in the year. Six months later, 46 percent of the New Year’s “resolvers” reported success in their behavioral goals (weight loss, exercise, and quitting smoking were the most common) versus only 4 percent of the “non-resolvers.” Researchers found that readiness to change, having the skills to change, and self-efficacy also predicted a positive outcome.