Nadisha Hunter, Gleaner Writer

New Year, same ol', same ol'. That's the tragic reality that will face many persons inking reams of pledges they'll be making to reform bad habits and accomplish groundbreaking objectives, says one psychologist.

According to Lorna Eapon, enough thought isn't generally given to crafting a strategic action plan to change entrenched habits, and so relapse becomes inevitable.

"A lot of persons don't internalise what they want to do and try to believe in the results," said Eapon. "Sometimes they are just following what other persons are doing."

The psychologist explained that that a lack of commitment to achieving established goals tended to become a stumbling block. Persons seeking to transform their lives should chart methodical formulae - comprising small, gradual steps, rather than major adjustments - thus decreasing the likelihood of a return to negative practices.

"You have to think about the rules you are setting all the way through; it's not all about just saying you want to make certain changes," said Eapon. "You have to discipline yourself to stand up to it."

Peer pressure

Andrew Champagnie, a self-employed individual in Linstead, St Catherine, agrees. He said some persons didn't thoroughly think through the changes they wanted to make.

"It becomes a norm in society so persons just follow (others), but there is no meaning to it," Champagnie stated.

He argued that peer pressure was one reason why New Year's resolutions fail.

"Persons don't think before they act and not everyone is able to accomplish the same goals, and setting rules that are out of your bounds will surely fail," he added.

Delroy Rattray, public health worker at the Ministry of Health, said New Year's plans collapsed because many persons merely set goals without devising a path to execute them.

"If you are going to achieve something, you have to set the goal and then plan the action," said Rattray.

nadisha.hunter@gleanerjm.com

What are your New Year's resolutions for 2009?

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