New Year's Resolutions

Why do we decide to change when a new year rolls around? Usually, it's for someone else; maybe a loved one, a friend, or a co-worker. The new year brings promising hope that one can drastically change their life. Many people decide what their resolutions will be way before January 1st, but wait until that day to start trying to accomplish it. Why is that? I find it odd...The two most popular new year's resolutions are to "get fit" and "eat better". So for the first three months of the year, gyms across the nation will be packed with eager people trying to lose those pounds and create a better them. Oreo's will be replaced with fruit and vegetables. But after about three months or so, everything goes back to normal. People fail, give up, and say "Next year. I have too much going on this year to do it, next year is the year." Why?

People set unrealistic goals. By completely cutting out all junk food on January 1st, you are setting yourself up for failure. If you have no access to it, you will only want it more and eventually cave. The trick is to start slow and take things day by day (or so I've heard). I'm no expert at this because for the eighth year now, I have the same resolution. Stop biting my nails. It probably seems like an easy feat, but anyone else out there that bites their nails knows that it is an extremely hard habit to stop. A friend recently told me that his new year's resolution was only for a month. Initially, I laughed. But as I think about it more, he might be on to something. Start with something that you know you can accomplish, and then go from there. The mind is easy manipulated and can turn what many people would consider a month of failure into a month of success.

So here is my advice. Not that it's credible or anything. Start this year by counting your blessings and everything that is good in your life right now. I've always been a fan of the "good news first, bad news later" concept. Then, pick one resolution and begin trying to tackle it. Don't be discouraged if sometime during this month, you fail. Hold yourself accountable to keep trying, make more progress. If all of a sudden, this resolution seems impossible, don't just say "next year", tone it down or try something else. Make this year's resolution about you, no one else. Good luck and I hope that 2012 brings great things for you all!