Heartland Behavioral Health Services- New Year's Commitments Pt. 1- January 8, 2013

Are you already struggling with your New Year's Resolutions? Here are some tips to help you get back on track...

We are 8 days into our "resolutions" and many of us may already be struggling or even given up on them. The top three resolutions year to year tend to be focused on:

1. Losing weight/Exercise More/Eating Healthy

2. Save more money/Manage Debt

3. Managing Stress

Try to change your thinking from Resolutions to Commitments. Commitments tend to stick and have more meaning.

 Be Patient-It takes 21 days to create a habit-both good and bad habits

 Make them visual: Write down your commitments and post them at home and work.

Let others know about your commitments-they will help you stay on track on support you

Make them reasonable and reachable-You can't decide you are going to go out and run a marathon in the first month. Start with walking, then jogging and build up to 5K's etc.

Make commitments that will also benefit others and require people counting on you. You will be more apt to follow through.

The key is not to overwhelm yourself at the first of the year. Set out a year long roadmap to meet your commitments. You don't have to do it all at once just because it is January 1st. Also, forgive yourself if you get off track. You don't have to jump off the bus just because you are steering off course. Take a breathe, review your commitments, troubleshoot why you may be struggling , make changes and jump back on the bus!