By
now, you’re probably on New Year’s resolution overload. Everywhere you look you
see ads, magazines, and buses telling you how to be the “new you in the new
year.” The pressure is on and many of us crack.
Don’t
get me wrong, having a goal and trying to stick to it is quite a feat in itself
because you’re hopeful, while some drown in self-deprecation . However, what’s
the point of aiming for an end result when:
1. It will make you miserable in
the process
2. You’re not 100 percent committed to it
3. It just won’t last? Isn't the point of having a resolution in the first place because you want to
improve who you are to be happier and healthier?
My
motto for resolutions: Think big, start small and stick with it. Here are 5
resolutions that you may have already broken and what you can do to fix it—it’s
never too late!
1. Lose weight. You've starved yourself since the last lox and cream cheese
bagel you touched on New Year’s Day. You can’t look at another grapefruit
already and this Cookie Diet you keep hearing about sounds tempting. Stop right
there. You can’t live off of any single-food diet and still be healthy for the
rest of your life (because that’s how long you’ll have to keep it up if you
plan on keeping the weight off this way).
Fix It: Eat when you’re hungry, even if it means you’re having six meals
a day, but eat smaller portions. Just make sure the calories you are consuming
you’re burning throughout the day. This takes focus and patience, but it pays
off over time. If you want the weight to stay off, there’s no quick fix.
2. Exercise, exercise, exercise. You planned on going to the gym five days a
week and you skipped yesterday because buddies planned a “work sucks” happy
hour. And then the weekend starts the next day, so clearly you’re not going to
that sweat pool on your “days off.” Okay, if this is the case for you, you were
not fully invested in this goal to begin with.
Fix It: On the days you can’t make it to the gym or you’re really not
motivated, try to walk more during the day. Walk home from work. Park farther
away from the grocery store. Take the stairs—no elevators! It’s simple and it
does work—getting 10,000 steps a day is key for good health. Plus, it relieves
that pang of guilt you feel each time you don’t make it to the gym.
3. Save money. When you’re single with no kids and the biggest worry you have
is if you have enough money to pay an absurd amount for rent after splurging on
a pair of boots, saving’s not exactly a priority for you. With people losing
their jobs at astonishing rates, you realize it’s time to save, but you just
haven’t started.
Fix It: Think about the frivolous things you buy regularly, but
little things like coffees, snacks, or really just cheap crap. Each time you
spend, also put that exact amount in a jar. It’s a cash savings that will
accumulate, little by little, over time. Just think of the price of that item
as being double its original price. If you wouldn't buy it for that price,
maybe you shouldn't be buying it in the first place.
4. Stop smoking. You only smoke when you’re stressed or out drinking with your
buddies, but you’re noticing you’re craving it more and more during the day and
you want to stop. You haven’t smoked for a week, but boy/girlfriend drama and few
glasses of wine later, you’re on the stoop with your fellow smoking buddy.
Fix It: Stay away or cut down on the activities (and people) that
tempt you to smoke. Stressed? Keep busy to distract yourself. Idleness will
only tempt you. Out? Cut down on the number of drinks you consume to stay in control.
Peer pressure? If your friend isn't supporting your decision to quit, you might
need to re-evaluate that friendship and see that person less or not at all.
5. Be stress-free. Alright, it’s pretty much impossible to be stress-free if you
live in a metropolitan city, have a job (or don’t have a job) or… breathe. Life
is full of challenges and obstacles will come your way no matter what—it’s just
how it is. Throw this resolution out and learn to stress less. To feel stress
is a normal human condition, and you can control when you get stressed.
Fix It: When you feel your head swell up and the urge to scream arises,
it’s time to evaluate the situation. Stop. Think. Is it worth the worry? Learn
how to drop petty problems. And, if you’re unsure, use your time productively
and think of solutions to the problem. This way, you can solve it and let it
go. Most stress builds up from irrationally over-analyzing a problem and the
horrific consequences you create in your head. If you’re facing something very
serious, consult a professional or a trusted friend—always.
Know someone who has gone through this? Share with them or leave a comment if you related to it!
Cheers~!
