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We are almost three months out from the new year, and this is when many of us look at our New Year’s resolutions to see if we followed them and how much progress we’ve made. For most, this is when New Year’s resolutions have turned to frustration and they’ve lost all that great motivation from the beginning of the year. But it’s important to know that you’re not alone in this. New Year’s resolutions can go two ways. They can be motivating and exciting or anxiety-forming and downright depressing. Ultimately, while we all have the best intentions, we likely haven’t hit our goals. But why is that? And what can we do?
Not So Fast!
First, it’s all about how quickly we want to reach our goals. Slow and steady is critical no matter what you are looking to do. Often, in a fit of motivation, we set unnecessarily lofty goals for ourselves, forgetting that getting healthier is a process and doesn’t happen so quickly. Think about how long it took for your health to decline, and give yourself at least half that time (and ideally plenty more) to return to normal. If it’s losing weight, and you want to return to where you were a year ago, give yourself at least six months to get there. For some of us, it requires even more. Most importantly, ensure that you set interim goals, such as having small celebrations before reaching the ultimate big win.
Be Ready
Lack of preparation can take down even the best of intentions. Any improvement you want to make in your lifestyle requires the buy-in of those around you. When losing weight, you can’t have everyone around you eating sugary foods and expect you’ll avoid them indefinitely. The same goes for alcohol. Going to the gym is another biggie. If you don’t have somebody to go with, being alone there may be dispiriting and unenjoyable.
In It for the Long Haul
A New Year’s resolution is often seen as temporary, which can be problematic when discussing long-term lifestyle change. Let’s say you hit all your goals and match or exceed your expectations for your New Year’s resolution. What do you do then? Do you go back to your old habits? Of course not. You must stick to your new lifestyle changes in the future. As such, a New Year’s resolution is simply a catalyst or a start to what is a lifelong resolution to improve your health.
Are Your Goals Reasonable for Your Age and Activity Level?
This is an important consideration because you lose some abilities as you age. If you are an energetic 25-year-old, you have a lot more opportunity to push yourself than even the most active and wise 65-year-olds. It’s just how our bodies are made and a consequence of aging.
Get Professional Help.
If you don’t have anyone to work out or diet with, or if you find yourself struggling to stay on track, consider getting professional help, whether psychological or physical. Doing so makes you accountable but also puts a professional in your corner, allowing you to push yourself without as much worry about injury or doing the wrong thing. Further, they can help you change your workouts or diets to make them more enjoyable and sustainable.
Get Back On Track
If you haven’t achieved what you wanted by now, it’s not too late to get back on track. No matter your goals, they are still achievable, and you shouldn’t give up on them just because you didn’t hit them at the time mark you expected. Remember to pick yourself back up and try again. Slow and incremental changes are not always linear, and you may have setbacks before you push forward.
If your New Year’s resolution hasn’t panned out the way you expected and you’ve gotten frustrated, we encourage you to take a step back, understand where you may have gone wrong, regroup, and try again. This time, and with the help of your medical professionals, get on the right track and stay there. We look forward to seeing the results of your health renewal and hope you’ll share them with us soon.
