“A new year, a new me.” The thought of a new self and a fresh start to a New Year is very exciting. You fantasize how you will look, act, and feel during the upcoming year. Expectations are usually set high as you develop your New Year’s resolution. However, after about three months into the New Year, you find yourself discouraged and unmotivated. Once again, you give up your sights on your resolution as you did the years before.
This is very common when it comes to New Year’s resolutions. Why? Because most resolutions are unrealistic and not well thought-out. However, if you develop a thoughtful New Year’s resolution and stick to it, the results can be life changing.
According to studies from 2015 and 2016, living a healthier lifestyle and losing weight have been two of the most popular New Year’s resolutions for at least the last two years. Many of us see the New Year as a great starting point to get in shape and feel better both physically and mentally. Having a New Year’s resolution to be healthier is great, but make sure you follow these rules to stick with it:
Set a realistic goal. Know what is achievable and what is not for your body. Make sure your resolution is customized for you, and not just a general resolution. Keep in mind your eating and exercise habits that you currently have. You won’t realistically be able to go from zero exercise a week to running a marathon after two weeks at the gym. You’ll get discouraged very quickly.
It’s important to stay realistic and ease yourself into your New Year’s resolution, or you simply will not feel motivated to continue. If your goal is to lose weight and exercise more, you might want to consider checking with a physician or personal trainer to develop a realistic goal that will be right for you.
Plan it out. Most people hit the gyms and diets hard in the months of January and February, then lose the steam. If you break up your resolution from one statement like “I want to lose 20 pounds” into smaller, more achievable goals, then you can plan out your goal throughout the year.
Buy a calendar or planner and write specific things to work on each month to help you work towards your resolution. For example, the month of January could include “go to the gym three times a week” then for the next month, “go to the gym three times a week and cut back on carbs”. Keeping yourself on a developed plan throughout the year will keep yourself challenged and motivated.
Find support. If your resolution involves a big change, there’s no shame in asking for help or support. Do you know anyone in your family or any co-workers that have the same New Year’s goals as you? Use that to your advantage to find someone that will help keep you positive and motivated.
If you don’t have a friend or loved one who can help you with your goals, find some support through your community. Odds are that there are a lot of adults in your community that are looking for a gym buddy or someone to talk with about health goals. You could even find yourself a new friend. Having support helps you keep yourself accountable and feel better while doing it.
Focus on the feeling, not the number. Don’t give your goal a certain number. “Become healthier and happier” is a much better resolution than “lose 20 pounds.” Why? Because numbers are not what’s most important in health. The digits on a scale can be deceiving, especially if your exercise has increased. Clothing sizes can fluctuate depending on what store you are at.
Most importantly, numbers don’t always accurately represent your health. If you are feeling healthier and happier and noticing positive changes in your body, don’t stress over the fact that you lost 12 pounds instead of 20 pounds. Becoming healthier is something that you will feel from increased energy, more self-confidence, and a healthier mentality.
It is possible to bring in the New Year with a “new you.” Keep your resolution realistic, plan it out, have support, and embrace the positive feelings of change, and welcome a healthier and happier you.
How are you planning on achieving your New Year’s resolution this year? Comment below.
Image designed by: javi_indy - Freepik
