Is there anything more promising than a bright, shiny new year? It’s filled with promises and opportunities, and to help get us where we want to go, there is this little thing called the New Year’s resolution. I’m sure you’re familiar with it. We’ve all made New Year’s resolutions…and we’ve all broken them about a week later. Maybe two weeks, if we’re really determined. But alas…by the time February rolls around, most New Year’s resolutions are just a distant memory of good intentions. There is actually a reason for this and it can be found in basic human psychology, so you can take comfort in the fact that you didn’t fail. It was a no-win proposition from the get-go. If your New Year’s resolution was to become vegan, that may have been the beginning of the end. Let me explain.
"New Year’s resolutions tend to be all or nothing and immediate or forget about it. This is a sure path to not achieving your goals."
Why New Year’s resolutions often fail
The reason New Year’s resolutions often fail is rooted in the simple psychology of goal setting. It is pretty much accepted that for most goals to be achieved, they should follow the SMART acronym and the way we set New Year’s resolution goals is usually the exact opposite of this. Our goals for the new year tend to be goals that are very big and encompass a lot of sudden changes. We also want these goals to be achieved as close to immediately as possible, or we give up, and we don’t often allow for time to “check in” with ourselves to see how we’re doing. New Year’s resolutions tend to be all or nothing and immediate or forget about it. This is a sure path to not achieving your goals.
How to be SMART about transitioning to plant-based eating
Specific
Setting yourself up for success is all about being specific about your goals. While “I will become a vegan” is a great goal…it’s also a VERY big goal and could be broken down into more specific mini goals. For example, you could decide not to eat beef for the first week. Then, in week two, pork gets removed, too. Week three sees poultry disappear, etc. By setting smaller, more specific goals you can focus on one thing at a time before moving on. If you need more time to adjust to each change, that’s fine. Set goals within a timeframe that works for you.
Measurable
This is how you will determine that you have met your goal and you’re ready to move on. For example, what was your intake of beef in week one? Zero? You’re good to move on. If you had a burger during that week, maybe extend the beef ban for another week and reassess.
Achievable
Setting big goals may seem achievable at the time, but history would indicate otherwise. When you take a big goal and break it down into smaller goals, they automatically become more achievable. Try to break down your goals into the smallest, most achievable milestones you think you can realistically manage. Which brings us to…
Realistic
There’s no point in setting goals that aren’t realistic. For example, I will NEVER eat anything that’s not vegan ever again. Guess what? You’re going to. How do I know? Because it is virtually impossible to be 100% vegan unless you control every aspect of everything you eat, and I’m guessing you don’t. Not to gross anyone out, but according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, a small amount of insect fragments is allowed in dates, coffee, and figs (just to name a few). And insects are not vegan. So, if you set your goal at being 100% vegan, you’re probably going to 100% fail. It’s just not realistic.
Timely
Here is where you decide how long you want to take to achieve your goal. Becoming vegan is a light-switch moment for some people, but certainly not for most. For me, it was a five year process that started with beef and ended with dairy. Losing the meat and poultry part was easy for me. I decided to stop eating meat and poultry and I never touched it again. That was certainly not the case when it came to fish, eggs and dairy. That was much more difficult and took a lot of time to find substitutes that I wanted to eat and recipes that replicated the foods I loved. So, if your goal is to be vegan, maybe give yourself 6 months or even a year to get there – remembering to set small, achievable goals along the way! Trying to make a huge life change overnight may work for some people, but for most people, it’s going to take time.
Starting anything new takes time and perserverance, and there are bound to be a few stumbles along the way. All of that is OK! Remember…the goal is not to be perfect. Do the best you can and enjoy the journey!
(Spaghetti Bolognese ... Just Egg, Impossible Sausage Patty, and Violife Cheddar ... Gardein F'sh Tacos)
I hope this blog has helped you find your way to plant-based eating. Sign up for vegcurious to be delivered right to your inbox at vegcurious.ca.
Note: It is strongly recommended that you consult with your primary care physician before making any changes to your diet. This blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended to recommend or endorse any particular product, diet or eating plan.
Comentários