Struggling to keep your New Years Resolutions?
/The beginning of a new year can mean something different for a variety of people, but there appears to
be a strong feeling of a “new beginning” for most. This sense of a renewed or rejuvenated self can result
in a desire to accomplish goals, or resolutions, for the year. For some, the experience is positive, and
they accomplish their objectives easily. However, if anyone out there is like me and my past attempts at
New Year’s resolutions, the process can leave you feeling frustrated or hopeless at times when it doesn’t
work just as you had planned.
For this reason, I thought I would share a few tips on how to keep pushing through to meet your goals,
even if the progression isn’t exactly what you thought it would be:
1. Keep it simple and specific- Some goals, like losing weight or quitting smoking, can be daunting
because they require a lot of work and behavior change. Instead of being vague in the goal to
lose weight, it may be more effective to set a goal to lose 10 pounds in four months. This gives
you a direction to go, rather than getting overwhelmed with waiting for the scale to change
slowly.
2. Don’t beat yourself up- It’s purely fact that none of us are perfect. As much as you would like to
be able to stick to that diet every day, someone at the office is bound to bring you a favorite
treat. Sometimes you really would rather sleep in instead of going to the gym. All that stress
would decrease if you could have a cigarette. Life is a progression of ups and downs, and the
best resolution that you can have is to get back on track when you derail once or twice.
3. Share your goals- Sharing what you are working toward in 2019 with a partner, friend, or family
member may ensure that you are able to have someone to push you when you need it. Or, they
may be a good listener for when you slip up and need some encouragement to get back on
track.
The new year can be a great time of year to decide to work toward a new lifestyle, and it doesn’t have to
be stressful or overwhelming. Sometimes it isn’t the fact that you have a large change that is making a
difference, but rather that you are recognizing that you are pushing yourself to be better. Keep those
resolutions going!