How to Make New
Year’s Resolutions
That Will Stick
Authors: Melissa Gallanter; Eric D.Griggs, M.D.
New Year’s resolutions are easy to make when the year ahead
feels like a fresh start. But once the year starts up and life gets
in the way, it gets harder to keep those resolutions. So here are
a few suggestions that will help make those resolutions stick throughout
the year:
Take Small Steps
One of the biggest reasons why goals
set in January don’t usually last until
December is that people often set
goals that aren’t reachable. Rather
than setting a goal to cook every meal
at home during the week, plan instead
to start cooking at home every Thursday.
Make each objective a small step in the
path you want to take, paired with a
plan on how you’ll get to that point.
Make Behavior-
Focused Goals
If you make a resolution with a specific
intention in mind (for example, setting
a target of losing 30 pounds), formulate
a workable plan that will help get you
there (for example, walk for 30 minutes
after dinner each night). This type of
goal is more likely to stick and it is easier
to feel like you can handle it. Focus on
what you can do rather than what you
want to see and the results will follow.
Support Others and Seek
Support
Social support is also so important.
Research shows that people’s health
behaviors tend to be similar to the
behaviors of their friends and family. By
supporting your close friends and family
in their healthy behavior changes and
enlisting them to cheer you on and keep
you on track with your goals, everyone
involved is more likely to stick with it.
Take it Slow
Be forgiving of yourself and give yourself
time to reach your objectives. Making
changes is hard and it may take a few
tries to get it right. The first day that
the goal doesn’t stick, don’t lose hope!
It takes a long time for changes to be
made. Having a plan for getting back on
track if you start to slip can be a helpful
tool also. If you feel like you’re losing
motivation, remind yourself of why this
goal was important to you in the first
place and find the way that works best
to encourage yourself to keep going.
Health
Talkin'
with
Welcome to “Health
Talkin’ with Doc Griggs.”
In conjunction with the
Xavier University School
of Pharmacy Health &
Wellness Center, we will
discuss topics that we
find most relevant in our
community. Our shared
goal is to help you Get
Checked. Get Fit. Get
Moving!™
New Year’s is a great opportunity to think about what changes you can
make for a healthier life. Wishing Y'all a healthy and happy New Year!
Resources:
https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/the-keys-to-keeping-your-new-years-resolutions
https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2010/12/making-your-resolutions-stick
https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/resolution.aspx
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