How are your good intentions going? Are you still working on them or have you secretly thrown them in the trash? From January 1, many people will switch gears and work on their good intentions. Yet two weeks later (this day is even called Quitter’s Day), many people throw in the towel again. Research has shown that it is much better to start your good intentions at another time.
Also read: No matter how cold it is: why you shouldn’t sleep with the heating on
Best month to start with good intentions
You would think that January would be the best time to start working on all the resolutions you have set for yourself. New year, new opportunities, right? Yet research has shown that another month of the year is much better to start. And this month is… April! We are happy to explain it to you.
Research
Scientists from Exeter University in the United Kingdom used mathematical calculations to discover that January was not the best time to start making New Year’s resolutions. This mainly concerns good intentions that have to do with your health. The research showed that in winter (January, that is) your body reacts very differently to simple things such as food. Your cravings for sugar and fat are much higher, making it much more difficult to learn new habits.
April is the best starting month
Researcher Andrew Higginson says: “All animals, including humans, tend to gain weight in winter. Storing fat is a way to protect yourself from harsh periods when there is little or no food available. That’s why New Year is not the best time to start a new diet. Wait a few months until April or May, then the vegetables will start to grow again and our body’s unconscious fear of losing weight will slowly fade away, making it easier. “
Think long term
What also helps, of course, is that if you start your good intentions in April (and maintain them), you can also benefit from them in the winter. Your body would then have long been used to the new habits, which means you will get through the winter very differently. Win win!
