going deeper

Making New Year’s Resolutions are a holiday tradition to make a declaration of self-improvement. However, many of us do not stay consistent past the first month. Check out these tips from Nurse Rose Melendez, RN, for tips on how to keep your New Year’s Resolutions.

Nearly half of us make New Year’s Resolutions each year. These concern things like trying to lose weight, exercise more or quit smoking. The goal is to improve our life by either changing a bad habit or developing a positive one.

About 78 percent of people fail to stick to their New Year’s Resolutions. Most fail due to a lack of a realistic plan in place to set you up for success. We end up losing that willpower and motivation to stay committed. When making a resolution, make sure to:

• Have a specific goal. Instead of vaguely stating “I want to lose weight.” indicate how much weight you want to lose and at what time interval.
• Make your goal measurable. Track your progress to help increase motivation and reinforce the behavior change.
• Take small steps. Making small attainable goals throughout the year instead of one overwhelming goal will have better results.
• Keep it relevant. Why is this goal important to you? Understand that you are building a habit into a lifestyle for yourself, not anyone else.
• Give yourself small rewards. Be sure to celebrate the intermediate goals to encourage yourself and stay motivated.

There is a greater chance that you will keep your resolutions throughout the year if you make them realistic. Some other tips are:

• Make a plan in advance. Don’t wait until New Year’s Eve to make your resolution. Decide how to handle obstacles along the way.
• Ask for support. Accepting help from others will help you become more accountable and manage stress caused by your resolution.
• Don’t be hard on yourself. It’s normal to have minor setbacks. Focus on moving forward instead of looking back.

READY TO CHANGE YOUR DIET FOR THE BETTER? FIND HEALTHY RECIPES HERE.

Each Wednesday at 7:40 am, Jerry & Blanca speak with local health professional, Rose Melendez, who offers helpful tips for your health and well-being, brought to you by our friends at Adventist HealthCare.