What would a new year be without some New Year’s Resolutions? Many of us decide that come January 1st, they will attempt to create a new habit (eat healthier) or eliminate a habit (quit smoking). Unfortunately, many of these resolutions are given up on or forgotten just a few months into the new year. I have found that the major reason for this is because it is extremely difficult to develop a completely new habit or stop old habits “cold turkey”.
Resolutions such as “I will stop eating junk food”, “I will exercise 5 days a week”, or “I will quit smoking”, are very large lifestyle changes that can be daunting if there is no buildup to the changes. An easier way to make these changes is to create goals. Goals can be set daily, weekly, or even monthly and allows for the resolution to be broken down into more manageable steps. Setting small, manageable goals will also give you a sense of accomplishment that can be encouraging.
While setting goals, try to focus on things you can add to your life, rather than take away from your life. For example, instead of “I will eat less junk food” try “I will eat more fruits and vegetables”. Although the same goal is getting accomplished, you may feel less deprived if you add something to your life instead of focussing on removing something.
Here is a tip for setting a goal. Make it a SMART goal. Every goal should be:
Specific: Exactly what is it that you want to accomplish?
Measurable: In what ways can you measure your goal to know you are making progress? How will you know you have accomplished your goal?
Attainable: Is this something you can realistically accomplish?
Realistic: Do you have the capabilities, resources, or physical abilities to reach your goal?
Time based: How much time will you give yourself to reach your goal?
Here are my New Year’s Resolutions for 2017, what are yours?
- I will incorporate resistance training into my workout routine at least 3 times per week.
- I will add 8 oz. of water to my daily goal every week until I reach my goal of 64 oz.
Have a happy and healthy New Year!
– Carly
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