Planning Ahead is Key to Fulfilling Goals, says Lisa Aspinwall
When we make promises to ourselves, what makes the difference between success and
failure? In this article by the Daily Utah Chronicle, Dr. Lisa Aspinwall looks at
New Year's resolutions, which are typically abandoned rather than completed, to find
the answer.
Usually, she says, it is emergent stress that derails the plan momentarily, and people don't have a plan for what to do once they've gone off track. That's the point when most people give up rather than start over. To combat this effect, decision-makers can plan ahead of time for what course of action they will take when the initial plan goes awry.