People put a lot of pressure on the transformative powers of the New Year and its ability to change them into a better version of themselves. Inevitably willpower wanes and the pressures of life come into play, and the reality is that change is hard. I’m not trying to say resolutions are a waste of time; in fact they can be great motivators when approached correctly. Avoid making sweeping lifestyle changes all at once, and you’ll be more likely to stick to your resolutions this year.
If your resolution is to be healthier in the New Year, you need to decide what that means to you. Do you need to start an exercise program, change your eating habits, quit smoking or all of the above? Attack your “get healthy” resolution with baby steps. People often fail to stick to their resolutions because of the simple fact that it is hard to deprive yourself of things you enjoy. The solution is to make small, incremental changes so it doesn’t feel like your life is miserable all of a sudden. Being realistic is important to success as well. If you never workout, don’t make a resolution to go to the gym every day for an hour. Instead, meet a friend and go for a bike ride or walk 4 or 5 times a week, or join a gym with the goal of going 3 times a week for 30 minutes. As you get used to the commitment, you can slowly ramp up your workouts and time.
If your “get healthy” resolution involves eating better, small changes are best. Going cold turkey on all of the foods you enjoy will make you more likely to give up after a week. Try switching out your normal breakfast for oatmeal or eggs and have a salad with grilled chicken for lunch a few times a week instead of getting fast food. Choose smaller portion sizes of your favorite foods or choose single-serving sizes of treats to help with portion control. Understanding how many calories are in the foods you eat and exactly how much physical activity you have to do to offset the caloric load can help you bypass temptation. Before you know it, you’ll stop craving the unhealthy choices and actually look forward to healthier fare.
Most importantly, be patient with yourself and accept that you are going to slip up every now and then. Pick rewards that motivate you—new clothes when you lose the weight, a vacation when you give up smoking—whatever it is that will inspire you to make the change you wish to see in yourself. Happy 2016!
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