Instead of a sloppy mushy announcement in front of a large group, I plan to tell my closest circle of friends and key support people. This small group will encourage me in my goals and not scoff at me with sarcastic remarks about how long I will or will not keep my resolutions. I realize publishing this article is sorta like telling a large group but this will also be read by some of my closest circle of friends so it is a jump start on telling them.
My biggest goal for my own personal benefit is to take charge of my health which means eating healthy, exercising, and see my doctor every three to four months instead of only once or twice a year. I am not focusing on weight, losing inches, or a popular diet plan but to just add more healthy foods, follow doctors advise and be more active. I realize these sound so general and vague so the second way I plan to keep my resolutions is related to my first. Be accountable to someone and keep them informed on my progress. I have a friend who just faced a health crises of his own and needs encouragement to stay on top of things and take charge of his health too. I plan to not only be an encourager but tell him of my own progress and ask him to remind me and encourage me as well.
Third replace bad habits with new healthy ones. I enjoy eating out with friends. I volunteer with a few different groups and each likes to eat out together before or after meetings. I have a habit of just ordering whatever I am in the mood for. My moods often don’t lead me to healthy choices so I am making a conscious effort to consider nutritional value and make choices based on needs rather then wants. It is the company more then the food that matters most to me so this one is very doable as a few others are struggling with the same issues I hope we can encourage one another to make choices based on nutritional value at least most of the time. Life is too short to always skip dessert
Forth is visual reminders. I plan to have affirmation cards and quotes where I will see and read them every day. I plan to keep my medications and supplements where I will be sure to remember to take them. Having pictures of friends whom I ‘ll be accountable to next to them as well. I will set these things in place before New Years so I will have a head start in staying on track.
Fifth is time management and setting priorities. If I don’t have something that I have to do that gets me up and about early then I tend to be lazy most of the day and waste many hours on the computer or other non essential distractions. Setting a goal of something to do each day and planning more of my day even when I have nothing much to do. If I set up some priority activities first before engaging in lazy activities then I’ll end up being more active. Once I am moving I tend to stay moving.
