Short advice video by Danielle Jhiani explaining why New Year's resolutions often fail: resolutions are vague, unrealistic, and trigger all-or-nothing thinking, leading to frustration and quitting. The speaker recommends focusing on small, specific habit changes (e.g., 'work on reducing my obsessions and compulsions') rather than broad outcome goals like 'get rid of OCD' or rapid weight loss.
They're too vague. They lack clarity and action steps. They're unrealistic. We set these massive goals to stop all of our compulsions in one month or to lose 20 pounds in the next week. Or we find that the results aren't coming quick enough, so we get frustrated and we quit. And the all or nothing thinking, maybe you're trying to make a change and you do pretty good for a couple days. And then one day you go and you eat that snack, or you do that compulsion and you think, think it's all over. I'm done. I can't do this. The problem is not you. It's the way we typically reframe resolutions and goals. So focus on habits and not goals. So instead of I'm going to get rid of OCD or anxiety this year, I want you to focus on, I'm going to work on reducing my obsessions and my compulsions.
