Resolutions

         It is that time of year again when we tell ourselves that this year is going to be different, that we are going to make changes and stick with them, and that life will be better.  For a few days, or weeks, we try and ultimately fail.  There are those few people who do end up succeeding.  So, what are they doing differently?

       THE NUMBER 1 RESOLUTION most people make at the start of a new year, is to be healthier.  Most people fail before they even begin.  They fail for two reasons typically.  One, they have an all or nothing mindset; or, two, they haven't spent the time defining what healthy means.  The first one is straight forward, you make a list of all the things you want to change, and the moment you hit a bump, snag, pothole, you throw in the towel, because what's the point, right?  The second one is a little trickier, because it takes some self reflection and awareness.  For instance, I want to live to a ripe old age, for the sake of posterity, lets say that number is 90.  What does living till your 90 look like?  Are you still mobile?  Are you able to walk around on your own, or do you need a walker or wheelchair?  How's your memory?  Do you have a lot of aches and pain?  What does your quality of life look like, and how do you plan to achieve that?  Most people's goals are too vague, and worse, they haven't really put the thought in to how they are going to achieve that goal.  More importantly, they haven't thought about what it takes to maintain it throughout the years.

        Sadly, we live in a culture of urgency.  Whether it's the expectation of responding right away to a text or message, wanting to lose weight now, feel better now, or be pain free now, we all subscribe to wanting instant gratification.  The sobering truth, is that things take time.  In terms of wellness, for every year that you've had an ailment, add a month to your recovery.  Luckily, our bodies are always changing.  On a cellular level we are changing, every 7 years or so, we are a new person cellularly.  Sure, our genetics can play a role in our health, but epigenetics- how our behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way our genes work, is something within our control.  It starts with our choices, and the choices then need to become habits.  Habits aren't instant, they're not a one-time thing, they are a lifestyle choice that takes time to develop and build, and a lifetime to maintain or change.

        When building habits, or changing habits, many people get sucked into the pitfall of that all or nothing attitude.  There are very few people that can sustain this.  For most, small, incremental changes over time work best.  Choosing one or two habits to add, and/or one to change/replace.  Working in healthcare for the past 13 years, and working one-on-one with clients, I've learned that between 1-4  changes max, is what is sustainable for the patient, and easiest to hold accountability for.  Even then it is not easy, but, if you can define your why for these changes, it can become effortless.  For instance, weight loss.  If it is for aesthetic purposes, you're probably going to struggle, but if it is tied into something like lowering blood pressure, then you're more likely to stick with it.  If you can stack the benefits of a habit, they will become easier to maintain.  Then the magic happens.  When you start building better habits, it becomes easier to add and subtract the things in your life revolving around your healthy lifestyle.  You do it naturally, because you not only see the benefits, you feel them.

        So this year, take a look at your resolutions, your goals.  Define your why, and define what it is you want to achieve, and how you plan on achieving it.  Realize that it is going to take time (months), and that it is okay if not every day is a success.  Habits and goals are not built on success, rather success of your habits and goals are built on continual effort.