LONDON — Drastic lifestyle changes, such as new exercise regimens, cutting back on alcohol and eating less meat, typically last less than two months, according to a recent survey. The survey of 2,000 British adults reveals that people stick with a new habit for an average of just seven weeks before giving it up, while 21 per cent only stick with it for a month.
More than half (53 percent) of those surveyed admit that they tried to make positive changes to their habits in the past year, but failed to stick with them. The results show that exercising more often, going to bed earlier and taking 10,000 steps each day were the top three habits people tried to adopt. Other common lifestyle changes include eating less meat and more salad, turning off the lights when you’re not in the room, drinking less alcohol, and having more time for yourself.
However, it was also learned that 54% promised to make only small changes to their lifestyle to move forward, and 72% believe that small goals are more achievable and realistic than larger changes. The study also finds that 67 percent of adults are more likely to fail to stick with a lifestyle change if they try too many at once.
Centre:mk, a popular shopping mall in England, commissioned the OnePoll survey to launch its environmental exhibit highlighting the impact of small changes.
“It’s interesting to see the habits that people try and do as part of their daily routine, but give up,” says Kim Priest, a spokesperson for centre:mk, in a statement. “We all have goals that we want to implement into our lifestyle, but that is often easier said than done. But we believe that one small change at a time can have a big long-term impact. It’s easier to focus on smaller adjustments and give them your full attention instead of being overwhelmed by many major changes in diet, fitness, finances, and environmental habits.”
Reasons for making changes initially included improving physical health (32 percent), saving money (31 percent), and doing their part for the planet (24 percent). But a lack of willpower (27 percent), motivation (27 percent), and time (20 percent) resulted in failure.
When they successfully adhere to a new habit, participants say they feel positive (37 percent) and proud (30 percent), but disappointed (34 percent) and frustrated (28 percent) when they don’t. Physical health changes are most important to respondents (33 percent), followed by social and behavioral (27 percent) and environmental (22 percent).
When it comes to green habits, three out of four people believe that if everyone made a small change to their lifestyle, it would collectively have a big impact on the planet. And 48 percent of those surveyed have made more lifestyle adjustments as they age.
Situations like the pandemic (29 percent), a health scare (25 percent), and becoming a parent or grandparent (21 percent) made people want to make a change for the better. The likes of social media (21 percent) and the news (19 percent) have also inspired people to review their habits, as well as family (30 percent) and friends (27 percent).
Top 40 Lifestyle/Habit Changes People Try Most Often But Fail
1. Exercise more often
2. Go to bed earlier
3. Take 10,000 steps every day
4. Reduce my sugar intake
5. Use my phone less
6. Give up or reduce my alcohol consumption
7. Eat more salad
8. Read more
9. Recycling my trash
10. Have more “me time”
11. Meal planning for next week
12. Eat less meat
13. Ride a bike or walk before driving
14. Take faster showers
15. Reduce the number of takeout orders
16. Keep indoor plants alive
17. BYO store purchases (eg fill your own milk bottle)
18. Buy loose food instead of packaged (eg, bananas without plastic wrap)
19. Switch to a reusable razor instead of a disposable one.
20. Meditating
21. Turn off the plugs when you are not in the room
22. Recycle clothes instead of throwing them away (eg donate to charity shops)
23. Do not overfill the coffee or tea pot
24. Turn off the lights when you’re not in the room
25. Use reusable makeup wipes instead of disposable ones.
26. Go to the gym more often
27. Turn off the water when I brush my teeth
28. Freeze or reuse leftovers instead of throwing them away
29. Buy locally produced food
30. Give more to charity (for example, whether it is time, things or money)
31. Take a walk/break at lunch time
32. Use reusable tote bags
33. Use reusable coffee cups and water bottles
34. Try a vegetarian diet
35. Cook in bulk
36. Keep a diary
37. Try a vegan diet
38. Use metal or paper straws instead of plastic
39. Growing my own food
40. Volunteer
Report written by 72Point writer Alice Hughes
Source: news.google.com