The Costco Connection
Costco warehouses and Costco.com offer a
variety of strength training and cardio
machines as well as nutrition supplements.
By Malia Jacobson
ON JANUARY 1, New Year’s resolutions are
as crisp and fresh as that brand-new 2016 calendar hanging on the wall. Sadly, many of
these fresh goals fizzle out before the calendar turns a page. According to the Statistic
Brain Research Institute, 45 percent of
Americans make New Year’s resolutions, but
one-third ditch their goals by February.
Fewer than 10 percent end up achieving their
original goal, and a full 24 percent set goals
every year without success.
How can you beat the odds? Setting the
right type of goal boosts motivation and ups
your chances of success, says Costco member
Francine Lederer, a Los Angeles–based clinical psychologist who guides clients through
setting and achieving personal and professional goals. “When people make long lists of
goals and never achieve any of them, it’s often
because they aren’t setting goals the right
way,” Lederer says. “Goals should be specific,
measurable, have deadlines and be realistic.”
Sidestepping these common motivation mistakes can super-charge your drive and help
you attain your goals.
Motivation mistake: Goal gaffe
Want to master yoga or taekwondo? When
your goal entails acquiring a new skill set, focus
on the journey, not the destination, for a
better shot at success. Researchers from
the University of Toronto found that set-
ting a performance goal, or an objec-
tive tied to a certain outcome, is less
effective than setting a learning goal
tied to gaining new knowledge
and skills. Instead of trying to
become a pro, resolve to
spend a certain amount of
time per week practicing.
Motivation mistake: Time lapse
Motivation mistake: Springboard
So-called “vision boards,” or goal-
themed collages, are highly popular, but are
they effective? Not according to researchers
from New York University and the University
of Hamburg, Germany. In fact, visualizing
success this way
can be counterproduc-
tive, draining the energy required to actually
reach goals. Visualizing success isn’t enough,
says psychologist Liz Bywater, an organiza-
tional leadership and performance coach in
Yardley, Pennsylvania.
“In order to get from point A to point B,
you have to take meaningful, targeted action,”
says Bywater. “I ask clients to pause, reflect,
then create a plan to reach their goals by maximizing their strengths.”;
Motivation mistake: Blast off
If you’d like to keep your goal for the
entire year—something only 8 percent of res-
olution-setters achieve—pace yourself.
According to a study in the Journal of Nutrition
Education and Behavior, blowing all of your
energy at the outset of a new diet or exercise
plan doesn’t ensure success, because motiva-
tion at the critical four-week point is a better
predictor of long-term success.
Avoid this trap by swapping gung-ho
manifestos (like “No more sugar, ever!”) for
realistic, enjoyable weekly goals, like trying a
new low-sugar recipe each week. When goals
are manageable, measurable and enjoyable,
you’re more likely to see them through until
it’s time to hang a new calendar. C
Costco member Malia Jacobson is a nationally
published freelance writer covering health
and family.
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