Methodist Healthcare - December 01, 2021
by Methodist Healthcare

It’s that time in between Christmas and New Year’s – you’re not sure what day of the week it is or if you’ll change out of your pajamas, but the New Year is on the horizon, and you’ve got big plans for yourself…still unsure of what they are?

We can help. More than half of all New Year’s resolutions fail, so we want to give you the tools you need for success in 2022. Here’s how to set your goal, make a plan, and surround yourself with the people who will help you reach it:

Setting the right resolutions:

Get granular: Often times, the reason it’s hard to follow through with a resolution is because it isn’t specific enough. Being healthy can be an overwhelming task. Are you committing to exercising regularly, eating a certain amount of greens, scheduling your annual screenings? Write down an achievable goal for yourself that’s measurable.

Set a time limit: Along the lines of measurable, set a goal that milestones that you can reach or achieve throughout the year to keep you on track. Break down your year into quarters, months, even weeks – whatever feels feasible to achievable your goal. If you’re building a habit, remember, it takes time – so work towards the next month rather than the next few years.

Keep it Personal: Resolutions don’t work if someone else is setting them for you. If you are trying to make a change or instill a new habit, it will be more success if it’s something you’ve decided for yourself.

TIP: Think of a reward for yourself. If you want to quit smoking, and you’ve gone a week without a cigarette, celebrate your accomplishment with by rewarding yourself with a fun dinner, or a celebratory movie. Track your accomplishment in a journal. Rewarding yourself and writing it down will reinforce the new behavior.

Talk about it: The more you share about your resolution, the more you begin to hold yourself accountable to the goals you’ve set, the more likely they are to transpire. Don’t be afraid to share your resolutions. Ask others to join you on your journey and be a support.

Be kind to yourself: If you take a step backwards, don’t count yourself out. One mistake doesn’t define the work you’ve put in, or what you can still accomplish. Get up. Brush your self off. And keep going.

The new year is the perfect time to take a step back and evaluate your physical, spiritual and emotional health and set goals to help you get to where you want to be. Want help? Become a HealthMatters member. We’ll provide you with health and wellness tips, recipes, screening guidelines, interviews with doctors and more to keep you on track.

Start by taking one of our health risk assessments to help you set your health goals for the new year!

Become a HealthMatters Member