BY MELISSA BILLIE CLARK
Happy New Year! Embrace the journey of keeping your New Year’s resolutions!
Every New Year, we promise ourselves that we will improve. We often join a gym, eat healthier, and attempt drastic lifestyle changes. However, let’s be realistic: while we may stick with these resolutions for a few weeks, we often revert to our old habits. It’s okay! You’re not alone in this; getting caught up in the New Year’s health kick trend is human nature.
We are here to help you take control of your “new year, new me” goal and establish a routine that will keep you motivated and engaged as the months go by.
As someone who tends to abandon habits after some time, I’ve learned the importance of keeping a journal. I wrote down my goals from January to May at the start of the new year. I specified my goal, established a timeline, and started small. Each day, I committed to working out for at least 20 minutes. If I worked out longer, that was a bonus, but I kept sticking to that 20-minute minimum. Additionally, I wanted to incorporate more vegetables into my diet, so I used my journal to document my daily meal plan. By making slight adjustments in my life, I ensured that I didn’t take on too much at once, making my goals more attainable. As we adapt to a new lifestyle, we can add more accomplishments when we feel that what we started has become a way of life rather than just a goal.
As the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “You don’t have to see the whole staircase; just take the first step.”
Disclaimer: Health 360 is an editorial column featuring staff writer Melissa Billie Clark’s personal experiences and opinions. The information provided by this piece reflects the author’s sole opinion and is not to be taken as medical advice.
