Don't Let Your New Years Resolutions Fail!

            Did you make a New Year's Resolution to improve your overall health and wellness? If so, good for you! Taking charge of your health is a great goal. But as we all know, the motivation we get from New Year's Resolutions can start to fade as the year goes on - in fact most resolutions don’t last past the month of January. This year, your resolutions don’t have to fizzle out because our physical therapists got together to offer some practical tips to help you achieve your goals and keep you moving forward!


Tony suggests:

• Start small to gain momentum - If you're looking to start running don’t set a goal of running 10 miles a day, start with 1 mile or something you can consistently achieve to gain momentum before ramping up.  Consistency compounds!
• Have an accountability partner - Find someone to take on a new challenge or goal with you, whether that’s going to the gym, eating healthier etc, having someone else to accomplish the goal will make it easier!

Josh suggests: 

• Many of us make health and wellness goals for ourselves, but in reality these changes positively impact the people around us. Making yourself accountable through a written or verbal promise to people you don't want to let down, may help to motivate you in reaching your goal. 
• Learn from the past. Instead of looking at unsuccessful attempts to change a failure, think of it as a step towards your goal. Each attempt represents a lesson learned. Try to understand why your attempt was unsuccessful so that you can better set yourself up for success the next time. 

Liz suggests:

• Try to incorporate a hobby or task you enjoy doing to make your resolution successful. For example, if being more active is your goal and you like to dance, take dance classes. 

Kyle suggests:

• Create a schedule and stick to that schedule until it becomes a routine for you. For example, if you are looking to become more active at work, you can try to incorporate 30 minutes of walking during your lunch break on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Eventually it'll be so routine that you don't feel as if it is a chore to fit into a busy schedule.
• Have someone help you with your goals. It is always easier to keep with a program/goal if you have someone to push you that is also sharing the same program/goals. Having social support is a huge predictor of success when talking about a behavior change! Talk to your family and get them on board! Healthier goals will benefit everyone!  

Above all else, we all wish you the best of luck in the new year!