New Year’s Resolutions: Will You Stick with It?

Every January, gyms are flooded with new members who have resolved to lose weight in the upcoming year. But by March, those numbers have dwindled and New Year’s resolutions are long forgotten. Is there a way to stick with your resolution throughout the whole year?If you write your resolution as a positive statement, it could keep you motivated for a longer period of time. For example, oftentimes the idea of losing weight makes us think of everything we can’t eat – no more cookies and pizza. Instead, try writing your resolution as “This year I will eat more whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables.” This way, you don’t feel like anything is being taken away from you.Another way to improve your chances of sticking with your resolution is to make it flexible. Going to the gym seven days a week is not realistic for those of us who work full-time and/or take care of children and a home. However, exercising for 30 minutes four times a week gives you the option of picking which days work for you, or even breaking up your exercise time into two 15-minute sessions.No matter what your resolution is, remember that small steps lead to big changes. Eating more fruits and vegetables might inspire you to make more healthy choices throughout the day. Exercising 30 minutes a day may feel so great that you decide to bump it up to 60 minutes. Focus on what small steps you can take each day, and before you know it you’ll have new healthy habits that will hopefully last a lifetime. Happy New Year from Primary Health Network!