How to make real change in 2022

2022 is coming swiftly. In just a few days, 2021 will be history, and you’ll start to judge the outfits and decisions you deliberated on so heavily. Many people, myself included, are excited to start the new year by building a new habit. But when you stop to consider new habit goals taken on in past Januarys, you might get discouraged. 

According to Daniel Pink and B.J. Fogg, there’s a great way to make real change in your habits in 2022. 

First, there’s merit to making resolutions in the new year. When calendars turn over, our mindset changes. Researchers Alter and Hershfield found that people are more than 40% more likely to run a marathon in a year when their age ends in a 9. 29, 39, 49, or 59 year-olds are much more likely run a marathon than 30, 40, 50 or 60 year-olds. It might seem arbitrary but many people find increased motivation to make a change when calendars are coming to a close. 

Second, there’s a model that B.J. Fogg developed to help people build habits effectively. It relies on motivation and ability. We may set ambitious goals for the new year, but if they’re below the action line, it’s unlikely that we’ll stick with them. Fogg recommends making your habits easier to do. You can do this by either buying the right gear, removing temptations from your living space, or starting with a more realistic goal. He also recommends increasing motivation. You can do this by collaborating with friends, or connecting a reward to the action. 

So take advantage of the new year. Find a habit that will help you become a better person, and make it easier to accomplish and more motivation to do so. Good luck!