New Year’s Resolutions: Toward a Healthy, Happy New Year

The New Year marks a time for reflection and looking forward to another year. Among the most common New Year’s resolutions based on reflection and goals are weight loss, exercise, diet changes, and smoking cessation.

To ensure your healthy resolution makes a lasting impact on your life make sure you follow three simple guidelines: Make it Specific, Make it Attainable, and Be Flexible. Instead of making your resolution about success or failure, emphasize the importance of having a healthy, happy New Year.

Make it Specific

Consider the two resolutions of eating healthier and getting more exercise. Specifying what you will do and how often you will do it provides yourself with more direction to eat healthier and exercise. For example:

• I will eat a vegetarian meal at least three times a week
• I will attend a yoga class at least twice a week

With a specific resolution, you will know exactly what to do to achieve your goal and be able to track your progress.

Make it Attainable

While a highly ambitious resolution can be tempting, it is not always realistic. Alternatively, set your resolution based on how often you currently do a specific activity.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• How often do I already [fill in the blank with your specific activity]?
• How often would I like to [blank]?
• How likely is it for me to increase the amount of time I spend on [blank]?

These questions help you identify your baseline. Your resolution should increase that baseline, while ensuring that it is attainable.

Be Flexible

Remember that whatever resolution you set, you have creative control over changing it to fit your needs. Is your resolution too easy? Make it more challenging. Are you struggling to find time for your resolution? Adjust it to fit your schedule.

Your resolution is meant to serve you in leading living a happy, healthy lifestyle. No matter what resolution you choose, keep yourself inspired and motivated. You are have the power and ability to live a happy, health-filled life!