Hanging On to New Year's Resolutions
By Angie Smith

Every year around January 1st, millions of people vow to get healthy, lose weight, or quit some bad habit. The motivation to make a change for the better comes on strong, but usually fizzles out before you can even make it into the ballpark of your goal. So, how can you make a resolution stick? Many experts say that it can be done one step at a time.

Instead of making grand resolutions that you hope to fulfill by the first of February, start by making smaller ones which do not take exceptional willpower to maintain. Even if you have a large goal in mind, take it in steps, with easy goals along the way that won’t discourage you.

In an article for XtraMSN Health & Fitness, Phillipa Jones wrote that people don’t like change. It is easier for most to stay with what is familiar rather than set off down a new path. Jones said that the more change you try to take on, the more challenging it is. Setting high goals that you can not easily achieve leaves many people discouraged from even making the effort.

Washington University School of Medicine wrote that lasting change means being prepared to make sacrifices. Many people are resistant to change because they are afraid of the unknown. Unhealthy habits may be harmful to your health, but they are familiar, and for many that is reason enough to keep them. So, if you want to make a positive change in your life, they have offered a few suggestions:

• Make a benefits-of-changing list and put it in a prominent place. For example, if you have wanted to become a full vegetarian or vegan, make a list of all the health benefits of giving up meat and post it somewhere you will easily see it daily.
• Start your plan right away. If you wait too long, the “new year” motivation will fade away. Have a back-up plan when temptation strikes. If you feel like smoking or eating those cookies in the cabinet, get out of the house and take a walk instead.
• Keep it realistic. You can only accomplish so much at one time. Don’t put more on your plate than you can handle.
• Be flexible. Things don’t always go exactly as planned, so be willing to move with the tide and continue to hang on to your goals.

If you follow these basic guidelines and are aware of what you are able to accomplish in a reasonable amount of time, you will be able to not only reach your goals, but maintain them as well.

References:

Jones, Philipa. “Making a Winning Resolution” XtraMSN Web site. February 31, 2002 http://xtramsn.co.nz/health/0,,8003-2017905,00.html