It happens every year. You tell yourself this will be the year to keep your New Year’s resolution of going to the gym; you are finished making excuses. But then the inevitable happens. You arrive at the gym with 300 other resolutionists, and you push off your new work out to the next day…or month.
But you said it yourself, this year will be different so we’ve boiled it down to some basic concepts to keep in mind to try if you are serious to committing to the new you.
Set an attainable goal
Wanting to lose 10 pounds is fine, but it will not happen over night, and probably not in a month. Mark a date on your calendar: Spring Break, your birthday, formal, graduation, etc, but have a date in mind. Writing down your goal will make it more real andhelp you have something concrete to hold onto if you forget what you’re working toward. Gradually you will notice changes, and by the time that date circled in red appears, not only will you be proud that you were able to reach a healthy weight, but you’ll also be proud that you set a goal and were able to achieve it. Baby steps.
Find a Friend
Surround yourself with people of similar goals. Knowing you have a friend to face the crowd at the gym, or go out on a run after class, will help you hold yourself accountable to working toward your goal. Sharing your goals with friends will also cause you to be more aware that others know what you are trying to achieve, by in turn creating more reason to stick with you resolution. If you are trying to create a more active lifestyle, doesn’t it make sense to hang out with people who are committed to the same things?
Replace one behavior with another
In Art Markman’s book, Smart Thinking:Three Essential Keys to Solve Problems, Innovate and Get Things Done, he writes that people tend to lose focus on their resolutions because they stop one behavior and do not replace it with another. “People say they’re going to eat less or they’re going to stop smoking or they’re going to stop drinking. One of the reasons it’s hard to do that is now you’re replacing this behavior with no behavior. So what you need to do is replace a habit with some other behavior,” said Markman.
So if you decide to start working out more, and can never seem to find the time, use the time you spend watching your favorite television show for a 45 minute work out at the gym, or a 30 minute ab tape. The television network will have the show posted online the next day and you will feel better about squeezing in those extra minutes that will soon build up.
Focus on the positive
Do not dwell on the fact that you were unable to make it to your work out because of a conflict or you were two pounds shy of your target weight by the date you set on your calendar. Focus on the fact that you have made it as far as you have and there’s no reason to slow down. Everyone needs a break. Do not deprive yourself of rest, or a piece of chocolate now and then. Remember a year is simply 365 days, there is no reason your New Year’s resolution cannot start today.
Sources:
cbsnews.com; http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505144_162-57349898/7-ways-to-keep-your-new-years-resolutions/?pageNum=8&tag=contentMain;contentBody
yourlife.usatoday.com; http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2011-12-31/Advice-for-keeping-your-New-Years-resolutions/52293452/1
forbes.com; http://www.forbes.com/sites/womensmedia/2012/01/03/want-to-keep-your-new-years-resolve-the-entire-year-ahead/2/
webmd.com; http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/new-years-resolutions-in-one-year-out-other?page=2
Spring Break (photo): summergrace2011.wordpress.com; http://summergrace2011.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/spring-break-2011-weddings/
Girl with weights (photo): hercampus.com; http://www.hercampus.com/sites/default/files/lifting_weights_0.jpg
Positive thinking (photo):clubpayroll.com; http://www.clubpayroll.com/blog/bid/57615/2011-What-are-You-Thinking
