Reality, Resolutions, and Results

At the start of the year, it's a natural process to want to set new goals and to have a better year than the last. We tend to be a bit more introspective as we look at the close on one year and the beginning of another, and it's a great opportunity to plan for a strong year and new progress. In reading up on New Year's resolutions, some estimates say that as many as 90% of them go by the wayside before January 31st. As many as 85% of those resolutions are estimated to be health related.

So why are so many people not finding success when setting New Year's resolutions? Here's a few hints that might help you set smarter goals:

1. Make small goals to start. For example, if you want to quit smoking then consider a gradual reduction in the amount of smoking you do rather than quitting cold turkey. Your chances for success are much higher and you can use the small successes along the way to give yourself further momentum! Then eventually, with smaller attainable goals, you can reach the ultimate goal of quitting altogether. Trying to do it all at once may set you up for a failure and not allow you to make progress at a comfortable rate. Also, weight loss goals go better in small doses as well. Start with 5 or 10 pounds, even if your ultimate goal is 40 pounds. A goal to workout twice a week is much easier to attain than five times a week, and you can celebrate the small steps along the way.
   
2. Make your goals quantifiable. Saying, "I want to eat healthier this year," is vague and won't be easily tracked. How can you know how much progress you are making on a goal like this? A more affective goal would be, "I will only eat fast-food one meal a week, instead of 3 times a week."
   
3. Track your progress. Using the previous point as an example, make a tally mark on your calender every time you eat fast food. You can easily see how often you are eating off plan and adjust your behavior accordingly.
4. Enlist a friend. Our new wellness program has us working together as teams to assist in motivation and to bring us all positive energy and support. You may want to set a goal with a friend or significant other, so that you support each other in your endeavors for change. I have a friend who used to text me each day, letting me know she had worked out. I did not ever call her to check up on her but it helped her to know that she had to text me each day and let me know how she was doing. There are also myriad bulletin boards online that foster great community involvement for all kinds of improvement endeavors. These boards allow you anonymity to any degree you choose and can be a great support when you are feeling less than motivated. Conversely, you can be an advocate for the change that you want to initiate in your life and perhaps be stronger in your resolve as you help others toward the same goal.
5. Realize that the life you are leading right now is going to have to change, to some degree or another, to accommodate your new goal. If achieving this goal was going to be simple and quick, you'd probably have already done it. You may have to hang out with different people, go to different places, and change your existing patterns of behavior. So don't sabotage yourself by taking on too many goals at once and expecting to make them all happen.

So no matter what ideas you have toward change in the new year, remember that smaller steps can mean greater results in the end. Allow your success to feed on itself and propel you to great things in the coming year.