You’ve made New Year’s Resolutions again. But this time, you’re going to stick to them. You hope…
At the beginning of each year, we firmly decree to make a new plan that will bring us to our goal of weight loss, better physical shape, eating healthier, improved sleep or maybe better finances. And we start out with the best of intentions.
By about the second or third week, our resolve begins to diminish. Is it because we have no willpower? NO! It is about our behavior as human beings, the habits that we have previously created and the types of goals we choose.
Human behavior: we are comfort junkies by nature, so although we may be very motivated initially, as time goes on, that motivation level may drop and we fall back into what is comfortable. It does not mean we are weak, just human.
Habits: we perform many actions/behaviors formed from habits, from brushing our teeth to the foods we eat. Each time you repeat the action, the habit gets stronger. So as I always tell my clients, if you have been eating a certain way (i.e. daily sweets) for years, don’t expect that habit to stop just because you want it to stop. It will require concerted effort to change the habit or routine. The best way to do this is to find a new routine or behavior to replace the old. The more often you repeat the new behavior/routine, the stronger that one becomes, as the old one weakens.
Your Goal: Wanting to lose 25 pounds in a month, go to the gym 5 days a week, make an extra $1,000 a week, cut out all sugar or sleep 8 hours every night set you up for failure. Start by taking baby steps and build on them as you succeed with each one. Make the goals so doable that you will ensure your success. Begin with something like eating breakfast of protein and fiber every day. Then add on drinking plenty of pure water every day. When you do incremental steps rather than one big goal, you can achieve it. The end result is the same but you won’t give up.
Any lasting change takes time and daily consistent effort. On my website blog, I will be writing specific baby steps several times a week to assist in those habit changes. You can visit at www.inspiredhealthcoaching.com. Make your New Year’s Resolutions small, easy to follow steps that keep your attention through the year. Happy New Year!