“Nothing Happens Unless Something Moves. . .” Einstein
Here so fast – time to make 2007 New Year’s resolutions. It seems like a good start, yet often our resolution to change doesn’t stick around for long. And that can lead to a self-defeating attitude of ‘why bother’ or ‘there’s always next year.’ Time to start all over again.
To avoid this pitfall, Chayra Gordon, writing for the American Society on Aging, suggests that resolutions should be realistic goals based on your own life and circumstances. A recent Marist College survey indicates that most New Year’s resolutions involve health-related behaviors such as weight loss, exercise or smoking cessation. That same survey also notes that people over age 35 are less likely to view the New Year as an opportunity to make meaningful change in our lives. And yet, we have so much to gain from thoughtful change.
So how do we develop goals (resolutions) that will be successful and lead to improved quality of life in 2007 when good intentions are clearly not enough?
Experts say four key elements are needed for change: awareness, motivation, skill-building and opportunity. If any of these components is missing, your resolution may not go far. For example, you may know (awareness) that you need to exercise. You may realize that your blood pressure will be lower if you exercise (motivation). However, you may not know how to become physically active (skill-building), or you may not have a place to exercise (opportunity). So the likelihood that you will start being physically active just because it is on a New Year’s resolution list is very low, according to the Journal of Health Promotion.
The journal offers some tips to help you set SMART, successful goals:
• Male sure your goal is Specific, (I will walk for 30 minutes four days a week);
•Make sure your goal is Measurable (30 minutes, four days a week);
• Make sure your goal is Attainable – if you haven’t walked more than 10 minutes a day for the last 12 years, maybe you should set your beginning goal at 15 minutes each day;
• Make sure your goal is Realistic. If you love to swim but hate walking in the cold, look for an indoor pool; and
• Make your goal anchored in Time. (By Jan. 30, I will have walked . . . )
Keep your plan simple. Write it down. Stick to it. Be prepared to start over if you get off track. One group of college students had a goal to keep a positive attitude in speaking to others for 30 days straight. To help them reach their goal, each one wore an elastic bracelet. If they displayed a negative attitude, they simply put the bracelet on the other wrist and began their 30-day quest over.
Finally, write down your accomplishments and celebrate your success with others.
Most people take their word to someone else very seriously. When we tell someone we will do something, we do everything within our power to keep our word. So why not think of a New Year’s resolution as a promise to yourself? You deserve a better life, improved health and a little fun. Just remember what Einstein said: “Nothing happens unless something moves.”
Gordon suggests the following to help create New Year’s resolutions that can lead to your improved health:
• I resolve to honor my life experience, appreciate my strengths and abilities and love myself;
• I resolve to make changes for me, not for anyone else;
• I resolve to get more in touch with my body and listen to what it is telling me;
• I resolve to ask for support from family, friends and others if I need it, and I will offer support when needed;
• I resolve to pick one or two things to work on and set goals that are SMART (see above);
• I resolve to try something new;
• I resolve to connect with others;
• I resolve to have fun;
• I resolve to start by taking small steps; and
• I resolve to give myself credit for what I accomplished. Good luck and Happy New Year! For information on issues related to aging, contact the Aroostook Agency on Aging at 764-3396 or 800-439-1789, e-mail: Info@aroostookaging.org or visit www.aroostookaging.org.
