How chocolate can help you complete your New Year's resolutions

New Year's Day is almost upon us. For some people, that means making drastic changes to their lifestyle. No more carbs, daily exercise, creating a budget - these are common commitments that make it on New Year's resolution lists across the world. The change from one year to the next can be a revitalizing opportunity to turn the page and start a new chapter.

Sadly, that isn’t the case for most people. Every year on average, less than 10% of the people who commit to a resolution follow through with it. Sometimes the problem is the goal itself. It’s either so lofty that it’s impossible to complete, or so weak that it’s hard to care about them.

But there are still plenty of goals that are a perfect fit and don’t get completed. It can be hard to stay motivated to achieve your goal when you have so many other commitments. Going to work, cooking, cleaning - who can keep up?

In these situations, we submit that the problem is incentive. It’s important to have something to look forward to along the way. And if you’re reading this, odds are that chocolate is a major incentive for you. Lucky for you, chocolate is the ultimate resolution coach. You can use it for nearly every resolution to keep you on track.

Getting in shape

Getting in shape is always at the top of the iist for resolutions each year. Whether that means exercising more often or incorporating healthier foods into your diet, most resolution makers want to be more physically fit.

One of the hardest parts of getting in shape is saying goodbye to the sweet treats that taste incredible in the moment but derail your fitness goals. The good news for chocolate lovers is that you don’t have to part ways with your favorite bar.

It all comes down to which type of chocolate you select. The dark chocolate bars give you the rich taste of chocolate with less sugar. And since cacao beans are high in antioxidants and other nutritious minerals, they’re far from empty calories. So the next time you go for a run around the block or eat more veggies for a week, grab some chocolate to reward yourself.

Saving money

A great goal to have every year is a reset of your finances. Time to reevaluate your finances and put away more money from each paycheck. While the reward is seeing your account grow with each cycle, it can be tempting to use that money for a more tangible reward - which is pretty counterintuitive to your goal. Pass on buying yourself that new car you’ve been wanting and opt for an almond and sea salt chocolate bar instead.

Being kinder to others

If you have trouble expressing affection and affirming other people, you might have a goal to be kinder to others. But maybe words aren’t your thing. You don’t know how to tell people you appreciate or care about them. Giving gifts is a love language that can communicate how you feel without words.

But you need to send the right gift. Don’t go for flowers that die a day later or a gift set full of items no one wants. Keep it simple with some chocolate. Sending something as universally beloved as high quality chocolate is a perfect way to show you care. And buy one for yourself, too - for the incentive.

New Year's resolutions are not easy to achieve, but they can be with some rewards along the way. Who knew chocolate is the key to becoming part of that 10% group who completes their goals? Good luck with your resolutions!