- I will not cancel my membership at the gym. As soon as I remember how to get there, I'll go every single day.
- I will stop using my treadmill as an extra closet (oooh, so that's where that blouse went!) and use it for the purpose for which it was designed, as soon as I remember what that is....
- I will find those dumbbells I bought last year (maybe they're under the closet...er...treadmill) and use them for more than paperweights.
- I will not sneer at the aerobics instructor and his or her ultra-perky voice and fat-less body. Rather I will use him or her as motivation.
- I will get up every morning to exercise instead of waiting until after work when I inevitably will find a reason not to go to the gym.
- I will not eat anymore sweets at work, no matter who's birthday is or how good that chocolate cake looks. In fact, I'm never eating sweets again!
- I will cook healthy meals every night and calculate my calories so I know exactly what I'm eating. I will begin using tofu and making my own rice.
- I will do a hundred crunches a day...no, TWO hundred!
- I will stop consumption of all alcoholic beverages...as soon as I finish this beer.
- I will strengthen my relationships by getting my friends/family to exercise with me (as soon as they stop laughing.)
How many times have you made New Year's Resolutions? How many times have you succeeded? If you're like most people, you stuck with your new attitude for a while and slid back to where you were last year. Why? Why don't New Year's Resolutions work? Amber Tresca reminds us that people fail partly because they don't plan ahead. She says, "If you wait until the last minute, [your resolution] will be based on your mind-set that particular day."
Another pitfall? Not having a plan to achieve your shiny new goal. When you make a vague statement to get fit or eat healthy, but don't figure out exactly what you're doing wrong and how to change it, you're doomed to fail. Another nail in the coffin comes when you try to change too many bad habits at once. Too much change too soon can be overwhelming and you may revert to your old behavior. Rather than chuck the idea of resolutions altogether, why not make a plan that will actually work?
Your New Year's Plan
Rather than committing to changing every bad habit you have on January 1, pick one or two to focus on. This checklist can help you choose your goals and work up a plan of attack. First, you'll set a specific, long-term goal (i.e., I want to lose 30 pounds by summer). Next, write down all the obstacles to this goal (i.e., no time, not enough energy, not enough motivation) and figure out ways around those obstacles. In other words, figure out how to deal with life's little interruptions before they happen. Deciding your strategy for getting past fitness obstacles ahead of time will increase your success rate. Now, you've figured out what you want to do and how you're going to fit it into your life, it's time to get specific. In the checklist, there are some basic things to get you started on an exercise program. Once you check those off, you're ready to set your weekly goals and figure out how you'll reward yourself when you reach them.
When it comes to changing something in your life, there's nothing magical about a new year. It's important to remember that you can work on these changes throughout the year and what gets you there are the little things you do each day to reach your goal. Find some way to be healthy today and then do the same thing tomorrow...before you know it, you'll be well on your way. Happy New Year!
