The start of a new year is always the perfect time to turn a new page in your life. This might be the reason why so many people have New Year’s resolutions. New Year always feels like a fresh start and a wonderful chance to establish new routines or change bad habits.
However, it’s always easier said than done. By the end of March, most people are back to default having abandoned their resolve and settled back to previous patterns. So how can you make sure that your conviction to get and stay healthier in 2021 sticks around past Valentine’s?
Here are five tips to help you create long-lasting change and reach your New Year’s.
Keep Your Health Goals Attainable
The surest way of falling short of your resolutions is by making them unattainable. For example, saying that you will never eat your favorite food again is setting yourself up to fail.
In fact, every year, many people resolve to be more productive, lose weight, or get in shape for the calendar year. Instead of selecting such ambiguous goals, you can try focusing on something more tangible which you can set your eyes on.
That’s right. Committing to losing 10 pounds or running a mini-marathon is more realistic than getting a six-pack by February. In addition, picking attainable health goals also gives you the chance to plan ahead.
Have an Accountability Partner
Don’t keep your resolution a secret. Yes, you have probably heard it a million times. But it’s true: The buddy system or having an accountability partner actually works. Having a working support system will help you stay accountable and motivated. Think about it: Achieving your resolutions is hard enough, but doing it alone is going to be an uphill task. Taking this into consideration, you might need someone to give you the occasional push when you’re not in the mood.
Try and get your family or friends on board to support your resolutions. The best-case scenario is finding someone with similar New Year’s resolutions and motivate each other.
Plan Ahead
In any case, waiting until the last minute for anything never ends well. The same applies to picking your goal. Choosing your resolution carefully and putting time and extensive planning is essential to achieving your goal.
Always start by writing down your goal. By understanding what you want to do and the problems you might experience, you are more prepared to stick to your goals and overcome any deterrents.
We suggest that you brainstorm on how you can deal with a major behavior change. Make sure to include the steps you will take to achieve the desired goal, how to keep yourself on track, and why you want to change.
Reward Yourself
Encouraging yourself to keep going is an important step on your way to achieving a goal. By promising yourself regular rewards, you will soon feel even more motivated to stay on track.
This doesn’t mean that you can eat an entire box of chocolates while your resolution was a better diet in 2021. Instead, you can celebrate your accomplishments by rewarding yourself with things that do not go against your goals. Blast your favorite music when you reach 10,000 steps or go to a movie with your friend when you near your health goals. The options are endless.
Keep Trying
Always remember that most undesired or unhealthy habits you are trying to change took years to develop. For this reason, you should not expect to change all of them in a matter of days, weeks, or months. So, be patient with yourself. Also, you need to understand that change is a process.
There are days where you might misstep. But don’t despair. You can always restart and recommit to your journey towards your health goals. Although it might take longer to achieve your goals this way, remember this is a journey and not a race.
As long as you show dedication to changing behavior, it might be something you need to work on for the rest of your life.
Before You Leave
Making a change can be daunting, but it doesn’t always have to be. Get professional help from Diamond Physicians and learn how to incorporate simple life changes into your life for the biggest rewards.
We are Dallas-Fort Worth’s leading concierge medicine experts with years of experience serving patients at a private level. Contact us today to have private general practice delivered to you by your own personal doctor.