新年決心每年都實現不了,這要怪誰?大綱

For those who make New Year's resolutions, exercising more and losing weight are often at the top of the list, but whether your goals are to improve your health, save money or travel more, it can be hard to actually keep the resolutions you've chosen.

人們在確立新年決心的時候，多鍛鍊身體和減肥常常出現在榜首。但不管你的新年目標是更健康、攢更多錢還是多旅遊幾趟，實現它們卻總是那麼難。

So what causes some people to fail year after year when it comes to making resolutions, while others are successful? That's the question 23andMe-yes, the DNA kit company-set out to answer.

是什麼導致一些人每年都無法實現目標，而另一些人總能成功實現心願呢？基因檢測公司23andMe想要找出答案。

The company surveyed 75,000 customers and found that only 21 percent of their customers made resolutions. Of those who made resolutions, 41 percent said they stuck with them. This is where things get interesting: 24 percent of women reported setting resolutions, compared to 18 percent of men.

該公司調查了7.5萬名客戶，發現只有21%的受訪者會確立新年決心，在這其中，41%的人堅持了下來。下面的發現就有趣了：24%的受訪女性會確立新年決心，男性受訪者中這一比例爲18%。

But while women were more likely to set new year goals, men were significantly better at sticking to theirs, especially as they grew older. Among the participants, 51.5 percent of men met their goals, compared to 42.6 percent of women who reported meeting theirs.

雖然確立新年決心的女性比例更大，男性堅持新年決心的比例卻比女性高很多，隨着男性年齡的增長，尤其如此。在受訪者中，51.5%的男性實現了新年決心，女性中這一比例爲42.6%。

No matter your individual goal, it's important to remember that over 80 percent of people who make New Year's resolutions drop them by February—and will completely forget about them by the end of the year.

不管你的個人目標是什麼，重要的是要記住：確立新年決心的人當中超過80%在2月底之前就已經放棄，到年底更是會忘得一乾二淨。

If you're set on being in the 21 percent, it can help to join up with others on a similar mission for support along the way. And when you're feeling like giving up, remind yourself how to stick to your resolutions when failure seems imminent.

如果你也屬於21%的要確立新年決心的人，和有相似決心的人們一起行動起來有助於實現你的目標。當你覺得就要放棄時，當失敗即將來臨時，提醒自己如何才能堅持住。

Setting small, realistic goals with a sustainable plan of action is the only way to ensure your New Year's resolutions last from January to December and beyond.

要想保證你的新年決心從1月堅持到12月甚至更久，唯一的辦法是設立一個現實的小目標，以及可持續的行動計劃。

1. Is it specific?

新年決心具體嗎？

Bad goal: I want to save more money this year

不推薦：明年要多存錢。

Good goal: I will save ￡6,000 this year

推薦：明年存6000英鎊（約合5.2萬元人民幣）。

2. Can it be measured?

目標可以衡量嗎？

Bad goal: I want to lose weight

不推薦：我要減肥！

Good goal: I will lose 2 stone by my son’s wedding

推薦：兒子結婚前我要減掉2英石（約合12.7公斤）。

3. Is it achievable or attainable?

目標可以實現嗎？

Bad goal: I want to speak to my friends on the phone each week

不推薦：我每週都要給朋友打電話。

Good goal: I will use the bus journey home to talk with my friends every week on the phone.

推薦：我要用每週坐公交回家的時間給朋友打電話。

4. Is it realistic?

目標現實嗎？

Bad goal: I want to fit into my old jeans

不推薦：我要能穿進舊牛仔褲。

Good goal: I am going to get into my old jeans by June 1, 2019

推薦：2019年6月1日之前，我要能穿進舊牛仔褲。

5. Is it exciting?

目標讓人振奮嗎？

Bad goal: I want to save money

不推薦：我想存錢。

Good goal: I will save money so I can take my children on holiday to Disneyland

推薦：我要存錢，這樣就能帶孩子們去迪士尼樂園度假了。