New Year's Resolutions that WORK!

It’s a New Year and an opportunity to become a “new you,” right? Many, if not most, individuals enter the start of a new year with a string of accomplishments they wish to achieve. They hit the ground running on these New Years Resolutions, but more often than not, are met with disappointment and failure soon after such a strong start. They realize their reality is not quite the reset they had envisioned. But that doesn’t have to be you, so since the life you want tomorrow starts with the decisions you make today, let’s explore some reasons and methods to set you up for success.

The New Years Resolution Reality Check:

Acknowledge that most resolutions fail, but it's not about personal failure, it's about a lack of strategy.
Move away from the "I must" mindset to the "I want to" or "I will" mindset for more positive focus and framing.

Mindset Shift: What is Your "Why"

Find a mantra or phrase to keep you structured. You might even select a single word such as “Strength”, "Nourish," “Peace” or “Balance” to center you or help you stay on track.
Focus on your feelings, not always just certain actions: After each day of this journey toward improvement, how is it you wish to feel? (Determined, Stronger, Pleased, Joyful or maybe Accomplished).
Be patient with yourself if/when you slip up; it's part of the growth process, and you can still continue the climb.

Use the S.M.A.R.T. Method

Let’s be smart about this. And remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

“S” is for “Specific,” as in narrowing down vague terms such as “Weight-Loss” or “Get Healthy” to something more concrete. While those are excellent goals, they might be too broad. You will achieve more success by outlining the specific goal you have in mind. For example, instead of just saying “lose weight”, you should decide in advance on a healthy BMI that you’d like to be. Instead of “get healthier” decide exactly what that means to you such as adding a specific workout habit into your routine or adding a certain amount of vegetables to your meals each week while limiting your intake of “junk” food or alcohol to a specific day and a limited amount.
“M” is for “Measurable”. For example if adding fruit and vegetables to your diet is your “Specific” then you will want to measure out the path for that, such as planning meals and/or even writing out your menu in advance for the week. Also, consider the benefits of tracking and documenting your progress. This can be an incredibly encouraging practice.
“A” is for “Achievable”. Set yourself up for success by planning appropriately and providing yourself with the tools and resources, as well as any support system you feel you will need. A good example for a weight-loss journey would be enlisting the help of family members to keep you accountable and asking them to be mindful of the things they bring into the home or mindful of things they offer you, so as not to sabotage your efforts. Also, avoid an “all or nothing” mindset and avoid being so restrictive or strict that you lose heart or motivation and find yourself unable to progress. If you have a bad day, don’t throw in the towel. Start fresh again the next morning.
“R” is for “Realistic”. Having a very lofty goal is completely acceptable and admirable, however, creating realistic, achievable mini-goals and precise actions which get you to that ultimate destination can be the difference between success and failure. Most people start strong with their resolutions, but crash and burn after a couple of months. A common culprit for this is that the goal set was unrealistic so discouragement became the only available avenue and failure was the final destination.
“T” is for “Time” as in setting a timeframe for reaching this goal. It might even be helpful to set a timeline for different milestones on your journey.

Whatever your resolution is, create a best-approach to accomplish it. If your goal is in the area of physical well-being, Optimal Health and Wellness Center, are available to assist. We are dedicated to helping our patients reach their wellness goals and become the healthiest version of themselves. We offer services for Hormone Balancing, Medical Esthetics, Functional Medicine, Medical Weight-Loss and more. We would welcome the opportunity to partner with you to get you on track and support you as you begin your health journey.

Remember, if your habits don’t change, you’re not going to have a “NEW” year, you’re just going to have “ANOTHER” year.

https://optimalhealthandwellness.com/

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