Heartland Behavioral Health Services- New Year's Commitments Pt. 2- January 8, 2013

Segment 2-Tips for Reaching those Specific Commitments

Commitment to Improving your Health:

Commit to Daily Exercise and Eating Healthy vs being a certain size of clothing

Involve others-join a class together so that if you start to waiver you have support and encouragement of family/friends. Let people know why you are passing on the "food day" at work-they will support you!

Use tools and resources-lots of great free on line resources to track daily food and exercise intake and weight loss progress

Set increments of success and reward those with little gifts-a night out, a manicure/pedicure, new shoes. Perhaps a whole new outfit when you reach a milestone of weight loss.

Commitment to Managing Money and Debt

Review your true financial picture and set realistic goals of where you want to be.

Set monthly goals toward saving money and reducing debt

Commitment to no future use of credit cards and a plan to make additional payments (even slight ones) each month.

Don't open anymore cards. If you have several cards, attempt to consolidate and refinance debt at a lower rate and then CLOSE the former cards.

Reduce impulse buys. Monitor your emotions when you are shopping. Don't go online when you are down. Say to yourself I am going to wait 24 hours and IF I still HAVE to have this, then buy it.

Involve your family in the goal. Have a family meeting and let the kids know what the family goals are and that we all have to make the commitment to spending less and expecting less

Volunteer with the less fortunate, at a hospital, homeless shelters...helps but you put things into perspective

Managing Stress

Commit to saying and sticking to the word, "No". Set limits for your time and don't waiver

Set aside time each day for yourself-either through exercise, reading, bath, meditation, journaling

Allow yourself to accept things that you can not change and focus on the things that you can