It’s that time of the year again. Amidst the shopping and the festivities, there are New Year’s resolutions gaining resolve somewhere in the back of your mind. While healthy New Year’s resolutions like losing weight, quitting smoking, and saving money are admirable, they are infamously tough to keep. Statistics show that only 9.2 percent of people ever achieve their New Year’s resolutions and break free from their bad habits. Why is it so difficult to make them stick?
We try really hard but always end up giving them up, because of one reason or the other. The reasons behind the loss of good intentions are vast. Researchers have ID’d several culprits, such as setting a goal that’s too vague or having unrealistic expectations. When setting your 2023 healthy new year’s resolutions, use these four surefire ways to make achievable goals that will last throughout the year.
Set Small and Attainable Healthy New Year’s Resolutions
The “go big or go home” mentality rarely works when it comes to healthy New Year’s resolutions. If you’ve never exercised before, it’s unlikely you will suddenly start working out for an hour every single day. Start with small and attainable goals, such as going to the gym three days a week or taking a short daily walk. Once this becomes a habit, you can work up to larger goals.
Write Down Exactly How You Plan To Achieve Your Resolutions
Having a plan is essential for your success. Saying you want to “lose weight” or “exercise more” is not setting down concrete goals. If you want to stick to healthy New Year’s resolutions, you need to be specific about how you plan to achieve them. If your resolution is to be more active, make a plan for how, when, and where you are going to exercise. For example, “Take a 30-minute walk Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Chicago Lakefront Trail.”
Tangible steps make achieving your goal real, and not just something you say will do every year, and never do. The sooner you quantify your goals, the sooner you begin to wrap your arms around them and get to work achieving them. Once you have your plan, write it down. Studies show that writing down our goals and aspirations increases the odds of us achieving them. So put pen to paper to help hold yourself accountable.
Bounce Back From Setbacks
Research has found that people give up on their goals when they experience setbacks or failure. The worst thing we can do when we slip up allows it to break us down, and force us to give up trying altogether. With most goals we set, you’ll benefit even when doing less than you’d like to do. Any progress is always better than none. A missed goal or lapse in judgment is no reason to give up entirely. Instead, we should use this moment as a way to learn and grow. Everyone has ups and downs; resolve to recover from your mistakes and get back on track. Recognizing the slip-up and addressing it head-on, and forgiving ourselves for allowing it to happen are critical steps in moving past a resolution speed bump.
Ask For Support
Don’t keep your resolution a secret. Tell friends and family members who will be there to support your resolve to change yourself for the better. You may even find a friend who shares your resolution and motivate each other. It is also wise to talk with your doctor about your healthy New Year’s resolutions. Whether you decide you want to eat better, lose weight, stop smoking or exercise more, talking with your doctor is a good starting point to get on track. By working with your doctor, you can make sure you are taking the right steps to achieve your goal in the healthiest way. You and your doctor can create a plan outlining how to progress and make the road to success more manageable.
Talk With Your Doctor About Your Healthy New Year’s Resolutions for 2023
Oftentimes, the biggest obstacle standing in the way of succeeding in a New Year’s resolution is the resolution itself. When making a resolution, especially one regarding your health, it is important to set realistic, reachable goals to succeed in the long run. If you plan on making healthy New Year’s resolutions for 2023, talk with your doctor to find out the best way to move forward.
Your doctor can provide more information about how to set realistic New Year’s resolutions, especially ones that affect your health. If you’re looking for a new concierge doctor in Chicago, contact our practice manager Christine by calling 847-986-6770 now. You may also complete our online contact form and she will be in touch with you as soon as possible.