Are New Years Resolutions Helpful?

It's that time of year, when we start reflecting on what we accomplished in 2024 and what we did not. Are you happy with your year in review? Are you dwelling on the "not" part? We start to think about the things we need to do differently next year and the New Year Resolutions are born!

The most common are drinking less, eating better, and being more fit. Are these resolutions actually helpful? How many of them do we actually keep past February? The truth is yes, they can be helpful - if you are setting the right resolutions.

What are the "right" resolutions? In short, the ones that you keep! If it was easy, people would not lose sight of them so quickly. The problem is most people create resolutions that are vague, unmeasurable, and unsustainable. They also forget that change is hard and takes time. Resolutions are GOALS! They need to be specific and measurable, so you have something to compare week over week. Planning for a full year at once is overwhelming and leads to expectations that cannot be met.

So, how do we create the right resolutions? Follow these steps for success:

1. Define your why.

   1. Why are you implementing this resolution?

2. Break it down into reasonable and specific goals.

   1. It is hard to determine success if your goals are vague or large.

3. How are you going to measure success?

4. Define a realistic timeframe.

   1. Choose a timeframe that is realistic to see results. A year is too long and a week may be too short.

5. Re-evaluate / re-define your goals.

   1. How do you feel?

   2. What worked for you? What did not? What can you try instead?

   3. What are some things you can plan for?

   4. Where did you struggle?

Here is an example: Resolution is to eat better.

1. Why do I want to eat better? I have been feeling sluggish. My latest test results were higher than I expected.

2. What are some specific goals I can implement to eat better?

   1. Reduce my red meat intake by one meal each week

   2. Add more veggies to my meals 3 days a week

   3. Reduce my chip intake

   4. Drink more water each day. Try for 6 cups a day.

3. Keep a food journal on how I feel at the end of the day with the changes I made that day. Weigh myself each week. Track my water intake.

4. Try these goals for a month and see how I feel.

5. Take a look at each goal and redefine for the next month.

   1. Did I reduce my red meat intake each week - was it hard? Can I increase it to twice a week? Can I add beans instead?

   2. Did I add more veggies? Yes and I love broccoli now.

   3. Did I reduce my chip intake? No they were too tempting. New Goal: Do not buy chips for the next month or make my own that are healthier.

   4. Yes, but only 3 cups. I really do not like water. Try seltzer water