It is that time of year again, where everyone seems to be talking about their goals for next year. With ALL of the challenges that 2020 has brought us (and there has been a lot), many people are looking forward to next year with positive attitudes and high expectations for themselves. Others may see these goals as just a fad and know that most of these newly adapted healthy habits won’t live long enough to see the snow melt. So, how does a person make a New Year’s resolution that lasts?
Find Your “Why”
The first step in making your New Year’s resolution is to discover why you want to make it. If you don’t have an emotional attachment to your new goal, it is easier to give it up. You don’t simply want to set your goal as “I want to lose weight”. Instead, ask yourself why you want to lose the weight.
Maybe you want to be able to play with your grandkids without getting short of breath. Maybe your doctor has been warning you about your cholesterol and blood pressure the last few years and it’s time to take back your health. Perhaps, you have a big event this year that you want to fit into that “little black dress” in the back of your closet.
Whatever your reason is for making this new goal, you need to discover it now and remind yourself of it daily. It will give you the extra motivation you need to get up early each morning and make healthier choices. Even on those days you REALLY don’t want to. This will provide you with the voice of reason to just say no to the box of doughnuts in the office break room. Most importantly, it will give you the positive reinforcement to continue your new healthy lifestyle long after you have achieved your original goal.
Plan Out Your New Year’s Resolution
After you discover your “why”, the next step is to come up with a strategic plan of how you will execute and maintain your new goal. Failing to plan, is planning to fail. I’ve been guilty of this myself and have approached the new year with the intention of “This year, I am going to eat better”. BUT what does “better” really mean? Healthier? More vegetables? Eliminating processed foods or refined sugars?
That is where the thought process ended. Sure, the first few weeks there were salads eaten. However, without a solid plan in place, there is no realistic way to maintain this. Instead, you will need to consider “HOW will I eat better”. Will you need to do some research and learn how different foods affect your body?
Knowing how and where to buy healthier groceries is no simple task. Eating healthier WILL require you to change the way you approach shopping and cooking food. These things do not magically happen overnight… unless you have a personal chef that comes to your house and prepares your meals for you. In which case, I am always open to a dinner invite!
It is easy to assume that just by eating healthier, that our bodies will inevitably BE HEALTHIER. No doubt, it is a great first start. To actually achieve greater health, you will also need to implement an exercise routine. Now, I understand that your goal may not be to run in a marathon by the end of the year. (If it is, I believe in you!) If exercise is not currently a part of your weekly routine, start small.
Celebrate the Small Victories
It is second nature for some of us to be extremely hard on ourselves. Which is why you need to make smaller, more achievable milestone goals for yourself. Then you need to celebrate those achievements! Even the smallest of victories deserve a good pat on the back and a “You did it!”
The saying “Rome was not built in a day” should give you some great perspective here. If you are constantly talking negatively to yourself and not giving yourself the recognition, you deserve, you will end up miserable. This entire process will be a depressing experience and it will be easier to quit and go back to “just being happy”. Happiness starts with you.
This is where you need to remind yourself of why you started this journey in the first place and give yourself credit for as much as you have accomplished already! Being healthy is not only a physical battle to win, but it is also a mental state that is achieved after overcoming MANY peaks and valleys. This is why I recommend finding someone that you can talk to when things get tough.
Get Support
The final step in making your New Year’s resolution last is to find a good support system. This could be your spouse, a friend, or a coach. It is important to have a solid support system in place to hold you accountable and inspire you to make other goals for yourself.
It can be challenging to get your family members on board for big health and lifestyle changes. Humans love patterns, and when we change someone’s routine, it can be stressful and easy to reject. So, do not feel you are alone on your journey if you do not have the immediate overpowering support from your loved ones!
If you are looking for professional functional medicine support, our program not only includes meal plans but also provides you with mentorship to help guide you through your journey. At Twin Oaks Health, our mission is to help people just like you reach their optimal health and vitality by treating your whole body. It is frustrating trying to figure out how to improve your health on your own. The amount of information out there is simply overwhelming. Which is why Twin Oaks Health has created a step-by-step program designed specifically for your body.
The most important aspect of our program is MENTORSHIP. It took Dr. Sauer years to learn what worked for his body and how to make changes that yielded results. You do not want to waste years to get these results. Which is why we are here to help guide you through this process and eliminate the guessing games, getting you the results in only a few short months. This program is designed to empower and educate you in gaining life-long results. BUT this is not meant for those who are only interested in easy, short-term effects.
Keep in mind this is a lifestyle change and not a magic pill to take that will solve your problems. To find out more information, watch this short introductory video, or contact our office today. Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year! Enter this year with gratitude for this new chance to create your dreams.
