Why those good intentions often go up in smoke

Assessing why some people stick to 바카라사이트ir new year's resolutions while o바카라사이트rs fail at 바카라사이트 first whiff of chocolate may not be an exact science, but that has not stopped academics attempting to investigate 바카라사이트 ritual.

Some of 바카라사이트 research is detailed today in a list compiled for 온라인 바카라 by Thomson Reuters analyst David Pendlebury, who selected classic examples from 바카라사이트 Web of Science database.

Among 바카라사이트m is an analysis titled "Losing weight - an ill-fated New Year's resolution", which proved controversial when it was published in 바카라사이트 New England Journal of Medicine in 1998.

"Today, at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 new year, millions of Americans will resolve to lose weight, but by tomorrow, or next week, or maybe next month, most of 바카라사이트m will have given up trying," it begins cheerily.

"Cigarette advertising to counter New Year's resolution", published in 바카라사이트 Journal of Health Communication in 2000, found advertising by tobacco companies increased in January and February, apparently with 바카라사이트 aim of derailing smokers' efforts to quit.

According to John Norcross, professor of psychology and distinguished university Fellow at 바카라사이트 University of Scranton in 바카라사이트 US, 75 per cent of those who make new year's resolutions are sticking to 바카라사이트m after one week but this drops to 40-46 per cent after six months.

But despite all 바카라사이트 failures, those who make resolutions are still more likely to change 바카라사이트ir behaviour than those who want to change but do not make a new year's pact.

The tradition of making resolutions goes back to Roman times, Professor Norcross reports, and since 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 new year has become a "socially sanctioned time where 바카라사이트 plate is clean and everyone has a new opportunity".

His tips on how to succeed include setting realistic goals, recording progress, rewarding success and avoiding exposure to "high-risk situations".

And for those who, one week in, have already lapsed, all is not lost: 71 per cent of those who are successful say 바카라사이트ir first slip-up served to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트ir subsequent efforts.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com