Many of us make New Year’s resolutions on January 1st, only to throw in the towel by February. According to research from the University of Scranton, while about 45% of people make New Year’s resolutions, only 8% of people succeed. Here are some tricks that can help you actually keep your New Year’s resolutions:
- Set short-term realistic goals and try to change only one behavior at a time. Set small attainable goals throughout the year instead of one major life change. While you may want to lose weight, quit smoking and exercise more, picking just one of these goals for now will be a step forward in making a positive lifestyle change. Reward yourself with something small for getting through the first day without a cigarette or going to the gym two or three times the first week – catch a movie or get a manicure. Just make sure your rewards don’t go against your goal – buying donuts to celebrate weight loss will obviously undermine your weight loss attempts.
- State your goals and pick a start date. Resolutions don’t have to begin on January 1st – starting a healthy habit in July is just as beneficial as starting one in January. People who state their goals are more likely to keep their resolutions. Through social networking, you can tell your friends and family what you hope to accomplish. Everything is better with a friend, so employ a “buddy system” to gain support, whether your goal is to exercise more or save money. Challenge a friend to work towards the same goal and do it together.
Resolutions are about becoming a better version of yourself, not a perfect version of yourself.
- Remember – your resolution is about the journey, not just the outcome. By sticking to resolutions that you can control, you have a much better chance of success. If your goal is to lose weight, sticking to a healthy diet and exercise routine is more important than the number on the scale. Don’t worry if you don’t lose five pounds the first week – committing to eating a healthier diet and visiting the gym a few times a week is something you can control and will ultimately help you lose weight over time without making you feel like you failed.
- Reassess your resolutions. Resolutions are about becoming a better version of yourself, not a perfect version of yourself. If something isn’t working, it’s okay to modify your resolution. If your resolution was to visit the gym five days a week and you find it’s too difficult or you can’t find the time, scale it back. Visit the gym once or twice a week to start, and walk around the neighborhood a few times a week – either way it’s a step towards a healthier you.
- Don’t beat yourself up. Remember that minor setbacks are normal. Don’t give up because you smoked a cigarette. Resolve to recover from a misstep and get back on track. Unhealthy behaviors develop over time and it takes time to replace them with healthy ones. Most people take several attempts, or more, to successfully change an unhealthy habit. The key is that you’re making an attempt to better yourself!
For help with quitting smoking, the St. Mary’s County Health Department offers free Quit Tobacco classes. Click here to see the upcoming schedule. For assistance with eating healthier and exercising more, try the Alive! Program – an inexpensive email-based method to help improve physical activity and nutrition.