Six Tips for Setting New Year's Resolutions That Work

new years resolution

Like millions of other Americans, you probably made some New Year’s resolutions regarding your health. Maybe you want to lose some weight, exercise more or quit smoking.

And like the vast majority of Americans who made such resolutions, you may have difficulty meeting your goal. Polls have found that by springtime, 68 percent of Americans who made a New Year’s resolution have broken it. After one year, only 15 percent claim success. But don’t despair. The secret to self-improvement is persistence, not perfection.

So, how can you be successful in setting New Year’s resolutions that will benefit your health in 2009?  Use these tips to help you make lasting changes in your life:

  1. Focus on one thing at a time. Trying to change more than one behavior at a time is a classic mistake. Instead, try focusing on one goal at a time and when this behavior becomes a habit, move onto your next goal. If you have larger goals on your list, break them down into smaller more manageable steps.
  2. Choose things that are important to you. Setting half-hearted goals can cause major motivation problems. The solution is to choose something important to you, and you alone. This way you’ll be able to stick with your action plan despite any difficulties.
  3. Set specific goals. Setting specific, time-bounded goals is a vital step. So, rather than saying, “I will eat healthier,” say, “I will eat five portions of fruit and vegetables each day” or,  “I will swim for one hour each week.” Describe precisely what you want to achieve and how you will get there. Also, writing down your goals helps you commit to them and recall what you wanted to achieve in the first place.
  4. Focus on the process. If your goal is to lose five pounds, focus on how you will achieve this. Do you intend to exercise three times each week? When you focus your attention the process of achieving your goal, you’ll feel more positive. In this example, the result ultimately will be weight loss, but you’ll be focusing on simply doing your exercise three times a week.
  5. Educate yourself. Learn as much as you can about your topic, whether it’s healthy eating, how to lower your cholesterol, or tips on exercise. You may also want to talk to friends or join an online support group. Advice from those who’ve “been there” can be a wonderful resource.
  6. Create accountability. By telling someone about your intentions, you will increase your accountability because you are now liable to someone other than yourself. This will help you stay on track.

If you do fall short of your desired goals, don’t give up. You can expect to have some difficult days, but when they come, try to think of them merely as part of your journey to better health.

Source: WebMD and healthcentral.com

 

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Copyright ©2009 Trustmark Life Insurance Company. Information in this newsletter may not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission from Trustmark Life Insurance Company. The articles contained within this newsletter are not a promise of coverage and are not meant to replace professional medical advice or service. Personal health issues should be discussed with your physician. Refer to your Certificate of Insurance or Policy for complete benefit information.
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