It’s is the time of year that we start thinking about our New Year’s Resolutions. A new year, fresh start, time to make a change. Whether it is related to exercise, nutrition or behavior, you want it to work. The question is whether New Year’s Resolutions really do work?
They do work for some people, but not most. Research shows that 80% of people give up on their resolutions by mid February.
Here are some reasons some suggestions on how to make a New Year's Resolution that you can stick with.
Choose Realistic and Specific Goals-Goals that we stick with are smaller goals that are attainable. For instance; “I am going to lose1 00 lbs this year" is not a very specific or attainable goal. Instead maybe, “I will cut back on fast food and exercise more to achieve a goal of losing 5lbs a month” is a more specific realistic goal.
Make a Plan-What will you do to achieve your goals. Let’s say you want to start an exercise program. Do you have a place to work out? Do you have a time that you can dedicate to exercise? How many days will you do it? Do you have a workout routine planned? What type of cardio will you do? How about a strength training program? Plan it out in advance and you will be more likely to stick to it.
Make it a Habit-If your goal is to cut back on sweets, think about replacing bad habits with good habits. If you eat sugary foods for snacks, swap out the sugary snack with fruit or nuts each day. Pack them with you as a snack so you are prepared. Keep sugary snacks out of the house so they don’t tempt you.
Have a Support System-Use your partner, family or friends to support you on achieving your goals. If they support you on your journey, you are more likely to stick with it. Even better, you can do it together!
Track your Goals-Keep a spreadsheet or a notebook and track how you are doing each week to your goal. This will hold you accountable and can keep you motivated by seeing that you made progress.
So, all in all, a New Year’s Resolution can work!! If you think it through, set realistic goals and plan for them, you are on your way!!
Happy New Year!!
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