New Years Resolutions - An Engineering Approach

Hugh Pickens writes "Four out of five people who make New Year's resolutions will eventually break them and a third won't even make it to the end of January says the NY Times. But experts say the real problem is that people make the wrong resolutions. The typical resolution often reflects a general desire. To engineer better behavior, it is more productive to focus on a specific goal. '"Many clients make broad resolutions, but I advise them to focus the goals so that they are not overwhelmed," says Lisa R. Young. "Small and tangible one-day-at-a-time goals work best."' Here are some resolutions that experts say can work: To lose weight, resolve to split an entree with your dining partner when dining out. To improve your fitness, wear a pedometer and monitor your daily activity. To improve family life, resolve to play with your kids at least one extra day a week. To improve your marriage, find a new activity you and your spouse both enjoy such as taking a pottery class. On a lighter note: What was Steve Jobs' New Year's Resolution?"

the solution to this age old problem

[jacquesm (154384)]

Is to make new years resolutions retrospectively.

Those who have access to a time machine of course do not need this and can go about it the oldfashioned way.

Steve Job's New Years resolution

[elrous0 (869638)]

The same resolution he makes every year, Pinky. TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!

Re:Steve Job's New Years resolution

[ScrewMaster (602015)]

No, no, you need to update that for the Google generation:

"What are we resolving to do this year, Brin?"

"Same thing we always do, Larry ... try and take over the world!"

Re:

[by Anonymous Coward]

Little known fact: Sergey Brin owns a pet mouse he calls Pinkie.

They're Pinkie and the Brin.
Pinkie and the Brin.
One is a genius,
the other's in sin

To prove their company's worth
they'll overthrow the Earth

They're Pinkie
Pinkie and the
Brin Brin Brin Brin
Brin Brin Brin Brin

Steve Jobs' New Year's Resolution

[niceone (992278)]

I'm guessing 2560 x 1600.

To lose weight, resolve to split an entree with your dining partner when dining out.

Loose weight and look cheap at the same time, woohoo!

Re:

[Lars Clausen (1208)]

My now-wife and I actually did this back when we were still dating & in the US -- the portions there are just so fricking huge that we couldn't always finish them even when we split them. Loose weight and save money at the same time, woohoo!

-Lars

Re:

[quenda (644621)]

> So what does a main course do, feed you for a month? Entrees are meant to whet the appetite

Note for non-Americans: In the US, "entree" means main course, rather than a starter.
Yes, I know - it doesn't make any sense (french for "entry"), but thats the way it is.

Re:Steve Jobs' New Year's Resolution

[by Anonymous Coward]

I resolve to teach slashdotters how to spell "lose".

Re:Steve Jobs' New Year's Resolution

[rhizome (115711)]

I resolve to teach slashdotters how to spell "lose".

People probably won't pay much attention until you start spelling "loose" properly.

Re:

[hyfe (641811)]

I resolve to teach slashdotters how to spell "lose".

God luck.

Obligatory Engineering Pun

[rbrander (73222)]

OK, my New Year's Resolution is 1920x1200.

I swear, no more fiddling around with 4:3 aspect ratios of the past. The CRT hits the junk pile in 2004, replaced by LCD, so help me.

Re:

[UbuntuDupe (970646)]

And when you get that HDTV, just make sure you don't get any rhythm games that output in 480i, because the lag will make them unplayable because the upscaling is designed to make the picture look slightly better.

Re:

[Dzimas (547818)]

oddly enough, my new year's resolution is 1200 x 1920. I can't stand a wide but short monitor - completely inefficient use of space. The only thing it's good for is watching movies.

True

[s1d (1185389)]

I use the same approach. We work better with smaller goals, which can be quantified. Its easier to remain focussed on small goals which can be achieved quickly, rather than larger goals which may tend to overwhelm us and also may result in loss of motivation after a while. And the same approach can be used in many other areas, not just new year resolutions. Infact, I'd rather call it a good management approach than an engineering approach. *ducks for cover*

Re:True

[Jeff DeMaagd (2015)]

Infact, I'd rather call it a good management approach than an engineering approach. *ducks for cover*

I thought engineering was partly about breaking a problem down into smaller problems.

Re:

[s1d (1185389)]

I stand corrected. Perhaps this may actually fall in the mixed stream of "Engineering Management", involving elements from both Engineering and Management, yes?

Re:

[Jeff DeMaagd (2015)]

I agree.

There aren't many disciplines where the lessons learned can't be applied to other disciplines.

Re:

[MoonFog (586818)]

And that can certainly be done with resolutions. Two years ago I vowed to lose a lot of the weight I put on while studying. I had a general goal set for June/July, but I always broke it down to every day and every week, counting calories and measuring weekly. Its difficult to see 6 - 7 months ahead, you "can always start later". But, by focusing on what I wanted to accomplish each week in order to reach my goal in July, it made it easier. The result: I lost 60 lbs from January to June.

Granted, that is the o

Obviously not written with Slashdot in mind

[by Anonymous Coward]

To improve marriage, people here need need to get a date first. That invovles getting a shave and getting rid of the ponytail. And getting rid of the same t-shirt that has been worn the last 40 days.

No. slashdot is not going to give up on this by the end of January. They are gonna give up by the end of next week.

Re:

[calebt3 (1098475)]

And getting rid of the same t-shirt that has been worn the last 40 days.

Pfft. Amateur.

Rubbish ... just water down your expectations

[piltdownman84 (853358)]

The easiest way to keep your New Years Resolutions are to start with a non issue. If you already go to the gym three days a week, make your resolution to get in shape. If you are 20 lbs underweight then make your resolution to not not get fat.

Never understood new years resolutions

[SuperKendall (25149)]

To me, and this is probably the engineer in me speaking, the arbitrary designation of the end of the year as a time to make life adjustments is very odd. If there is a problem in your life or something that needs changing, it seems like you should work to correct that whenever you discover it. The big push for resolutions around new years seems counterproductive in that many people may wait to make changes until "the new year".

It seems like personal growth should be a cycle of small, incremental improvements made throughout your life.

Does anyone really make these?

[pla (258480)]

I remember as a kid making New Year's resolutions, and forgetting about them usually before the end of the night.

I don't think I've even bothered to make one for the past 15-20 years.

So "scientific approach" to keeping them aside - Do people actually make resolutions they ever intend to keep, or do these just amount to 30 seconds of introspection to observe a flaw about yourself, only to forget it a few minutes later? Do you actually say to yourself, "This year, I will get that promotion", and mean it in any way more concrete than mere wishful thinking?

myminicity

[by Anonymous Coward]

Kill anyone I meet who has a myminicity account.

Re:

[calebt3 (1098475)]

Let's hope you meet them.

Cut the serving in half?

[JLennox (942693)]

If you're ordering food that can only be turned into a reasonable calorie count by cutting the serving in half, you have already lost. It's about not ordering that sort of food. Hell, 90% of the problem is ordering food to begin with. If you cooked it yourself, you could of tossed one less stick of butter into it.

Re:

[Torvaun (1040898)]

I have a job that requires me to travel a fair amount. The last thing I feel like doing is buying a few days worth of groceries so that I can cook in the hotel room. So, I eat out. Partial servings is a good way to spread out a steak across two meals instead of one, especially when an 8 oz steak might cost only a couple dollars less than a 16 oz steak, if the 8 oz is available at all.

Small, One Day At a Time Goals

[RAMMS+EIN (578166)]

"Small and tangible one-day-at-a-time goals work best."

You mean like: "Just try not to drink today"?

I say screw it!

[Captain DaFt (755254)]

So every year I resolve to be as evil and nasty as possible.
That way not only does no one mind when I break my resolution, I'm encouraged to do so!

Author should read some XteveXalina

[sw155kn1f3 (600118)]

No offence, but it's mostly child-talk, what I read in the summary. Do you really think slashdot crowd is that stupid? Planning, achieving goals, time management is very important to all adult people. And they're usually good at it, that's why they're called adults. For kids out there article doesn't help anyway, because it's just a bunch of pre-canned orders. Embarrassing.
Please don't let slashdot to become another "Cosmopolitan" or "Men's health".
We value scientific and system approach here, not some ligh

My resolution from 2001

[grasshoppa (657393)]

"Make no more silly resolutions just because a calendar # changes"

Still holding it.

Re:

[calebt3 (1098475)]

Sooo... You will make silly resolution for just about any other arbitrary reason?

Probably Good Advice ...

[richg74 (650636)]

Sticking to small-scale, well-defined goals ("limited and achievable objectives") is definitely the way to go, in my experience.

I was, for a few years, a volunteer training coach for a couple of the US AIDS Rides (Boston->New York by bicycle, for example). Everyone has heard people make grand resolutions about getting into, or back into, shape; these resolutions often don't amount to much. We asked people to make an initial commitment to a training program of about 6 weeks, and that worked out pret

Boo!

[SuperBanana (662181)]

To improve your marriage, find a new activity you and your spouse both enjoy such as taking a pottery class

Gee, now where on earth did that spooky tip come from *cough*Ghost*cough*

Yeesh...where do they dig up these 'experts'?

This works -

[frankenheinz (976104)]

I always resolve to not start smoking crack. (So far I'm batting 1000.)

Who made this resolution?

[HockeyPuck (141947)]

To improve your marriage, find a new activity you and your spouse both enjoy such as taking a pottery class

Since this should be filed under the heading "stereotypical things you wife wants you to do" cross referenced under the heading "Taking one for the team."

Instead how about...

..Watching one WWE wrestling event together per week.

..Being able to veto watching "When Harry Met Sally".

..Not having to have a 'deep meaningful discussion about your feelings' during the superbowl.

Go ahead mod me "-1 Troll, Sexist Pig".

Why does everyone make depressing resolutions?

[Zadaz (950521)]

All I hear is "Loose weight", "Spend more time with my depressing spouse", "Spend more time at the depressing gym."

Well of course no one keeps those. Who wants to do that crap?

Why not resolve to do something you'll enjoy.

Resolve to have more and better sex than last year.
Resolve to earn more for less work than last year.
Resolve to find something new that makes you laugh.
Resolve to cross more things off your "Before I Die..." list.
Resolve to spend less time around people you don't like.

And it just might turn out that you're spending time enjoying your life that a lot of the other things take care of themselves.

Re:

[Farmer Tim (530755)]

Resolve to cross more things off your "Before I Die..." list.

If you make dying the priority you can cross the rest off at once (nothing personal, just pointing out the efficient route).

I'm telling you, realistic sexbots = world peace

[Quiet_Desperation (858215)]

--- Resolve to have more and better sex than last year.

That gets expensive. Does't matter if it's a S.O. or prostitutes, either.

--- Resolve to earn more for less work than last year.

Not sure I can optimize that one any further without my bosses catching on.

--- Resolve to find something new that makes you laugh.

I just turn on the news every evening. There's new hilarity every day. And it's an election year!

Helps to be a misanthrope, I guess.

--- Resolve to cross more things off your "Before I Die..." list.

But I can't get Jennifer Connelly to return my calls, much less agree to what's on my list.

--- Resolve to spend less time around people you don't like.

Well now I'd have to leave the planet. I'm a skeptic, but I do follow major UFO sightings with interest. No real luck yet.

Re:

[ZorbaTHut (126196)]

I resolve to spend more time at the fun gym. I don't know why everyone always chooses the depressing one.

Re:

[Quiet_Desperation (858215)]

Lose weight, spend more time with your spouse, and more time at the gym (with your spouse if possible) and the chance of having more and better sex will improve.

Yeah, but the "spouse" constant there sort of torpedoes the whole equation. Make it a variable and you're on to something.

I'm not married, BTW. Just basing this on my observations of married friends.

How to make New Year's Resolutions

[Okian Warrior (537106)]

I've been studying this very subject heavily for the past 18 months or so.

We now know a great deal about how the mind works and have applied it to the general subject of "becoming a success". Being successful always involves explicitly setting goals, and this can be done with New Years' resolutions SO LONG AS they are done correctly.

I'm boiling the issues down to a few simple facts, but they are all verified by psychological studies and have their basis in well-known underlying mechanisms. It all comes from your Reticular Activating System, which is a part of your brain that is involved with setting goals (I'm simplifying).

1) Don't make resolutions, set goals. Pick the major areas of your life (personal, work, relationship, church, community) and write down things that you'd like to achieve in the upcoming year.

2) Resolutions need to be written down. No one has explained why writing is needed, but it works. Lots of studies have shown this. (Maybe it's because wirting things activates all areas of your mind at once: you "say" it in your mind while writing it, you see it, you write it, &c).

3) Resolutions must be personal. Use "I" when writing them (as in "I read 15 books by year's end").

4) Resolutions must be positive. If you say "I stop smoking" or "I stop chewing my nails", it won't work. The RAS only deals with positive commands, and not negative ones. To deal with biting your nails, write "I notice every time I bring my fingers to my mouth" or something, and then stop yourself at those times.

5) Resolutions must be in present tense. Write "I earn $80K a year", not "I earn $80K by the end of the year".

6) Where possible, resolutions should be measurable. If you want to lose weight, say "I weigh 175 pounds".

7) Resolutions should be reasonable. Don't say "I earn a million dollars a year", take your salary, add 20% and write "I earn XXX a year".

The more specific and detailed you are, the greater likelyhood that the goal will happen. Want a new car? Write down the make, model, color, options, and everything else you can think of.

Once you have your goals written out, occasionally look at them. Once a week or more will really drive the message home to your subconscious.

People who do this are generally amazed at the results. It's making use of existing well-known mechanisms in your mind, but we've only recently discovered how to make use of them.

And this is why it works...

[Okian Warrior (537106)]

Before some psych major posts about how the RAS isn't involved with goals, let me clarify.

The Reticular Activating System (RAS) decides what is "important" to your conscious mind.

As you read this, you can feel the weight of the chair on your legs, feel the clothes on your shoulders, see the wall beyond the monitor, and hear the backgound noise. You can feel your breathing, and if you concentrate you can maybe hear your heart beat.

None of this information makes it to your consious mind because the RAS steps in and says "this isn't important to me". You don't notice the feel of your pants clinging to your leg, but if a bug started crawling up your leg the RAS would go nuts bringing it to the attention of your mind.

The interesting thing about the RAS is that we can tell it what is important. Once we decide on a goal, anything that reasonates with that goal will be allowed through to our conscious minds.

Day by day we are awash in possibilities that we pay no attention to. Once we set a goal and let the RAS know what's important, these possibilities start to come through to the conscious mind and we find that by exploring more and more possibilities, eventually we get to our goal.

People who set and write down goals comment on how "magical" this all appears. Almost as if there is some force in the universe that is coming to their aid. Suddenly, someone mentions that their son is selling his car and it happens to be the exact make, model, and price you were hoping for.

Of course, the possibilities were there *before* you set your goals as well - you just didn't notice them. Some people have suggested that this is how prayer works.

Whatever the underlying reasons, writing down goals seems to work. It's how people people get to be extremely successful in whatever area they choose.

Re:

[Sapphon (214287)]

As you read this, you can feel the weight of the chair on your legs ...

My New Year's resolution: learn how to sit on a chair properly.
 

GTD

[ckolar (43016)]

Is this really an engineering approach, it looks like the David Allen's "next tangible step you can take the physical world" approach. I am one of those people who found Getting Things Done life changing.

What I my kid to do this year

[plopez (54068)]

1) Stop hanging around slashdot.

2) Move out of my damn basement.

3) Get a date.

Re:

[argiedot (1035754)]

I've heard this every year, and I don't get it. By making the resolution you've failed at upholding the resolution. There's nothing more to it, no paradox or anything. The time for which you upheld the resolution is zero, that's all. You are the gold standard for the lack of willpower. Congratulations.

Re:My new year's resolution is not to make one

[It'sYerMam (762418)]

A better one is resolving not to keep a new years resolution.

Re:Talk to to a woman

[yndrd1984 (730475)]

talk to a woman this year

Speak for yourself - I call my mom every week!

Oh, you meant a ... woman woman ... sorry.

Re:

[HockeyPuck (141947)]

Speak for yourself - I call my mom every week!

Oddly, your mom calls me every week too.