January is coming, MINT lovers.  The Statistic Brain Research Institute reported that 45% us make a new year’s resolution, and our #1 goal is weight loss. Despite our best intentions, only eight percent of us will report that we’ve achieved our goals. How can we make 2017 different? By using a little brainpower and a system called WOOP.

WOOP stands for Wish Outcome Obstacle Plan. It’s a method for setting and achieving goals developed by psychologist Gabriele Oettingen at NYU.

A recent study found that WOOP helped participants double the amount of regular physical exercise.  Can you picture what you would look like if you could double your time at MINT?

WOOP works something like this: Think about your New Years resolution.  If you’re like most of us, your goal is to lose some weight, and get yourself healthy and fit.  That’s your “W” or your Wish.

Next, think about the Outcome.  If your wish comes true, you’ll have so much energy and confidence in 2017.  When you feel great, you’re able to be more and do more.

Sounds great, right?  But Dr. Oettingen found that if we just think about what we want and how great we’ll feel once we reach our goal, our blood pressure drops and we feel more relaxed.  Our bodies respond as if just wishing for better health had actually made us achieve that goal, and on some level, we lose that motivation. That’s why we need more than just a great resolution and a positive attitude.

After positive visualization, it’s time contrast that positive vision by taking a hard look in the mirror. What are the Obstacles that might get in the way of achieving your goal?  Don’t worry about that January weather. MINT is still open.  Instead, focus on obstacles that come from within:  What are the things that keep you from working out the way you hope to in January? Too much rich food, booze, and lack of sleep are common excuses. Or perhaps you struggle to make the gym a priority, or to find value in a low-impact workout when you have a cold.

What we need is a Plan.  Knowing our wish, having a motivating vision of the outcome, means we need a plan to overcome that obstacle. The plan can be something simple, like registering for that spin class tomorrow morning before heading out to happy hour tonight.  Or you might need to give yourself a little positive pep talk about the value of getting your blood moving, if only for 20 minutes.

Want to try it out? Download the free WOOP app or check out Dr. Oettingen’s research on her website or check out her book, Rethinking Positive Thinking: Inside The New Science Of Motivation.

WOOP it up with us at MINT this January, and let’s make 2017 the year you achieve all your health and fitness goals.