Dec 17 2008
Planning for the New Year
It’s usually that week between Christmas and New Years that we start making a list of New Year’s Resolutions. At least, we start thinking about it. The idea of a new year makes us feel as though we have a fresh beginning to start over or start new. It’s not a bad thing to think about the year ahead and plan goals to accomplish during that time. And guess what you get a second chance at this new beginning every time you have a birthday. After all, it’s the brand new beginning of your new year.
Be realistic. I have a plan for getting healthy this year, but it’s difficult to expect yourself to make all the changes at once. Start with just one small thing the first week of the new year and then add to it every week.
January 1 (first week is only 3 days): Go for a 10 minute walk every day this week.
January 4 (week 2): Walk 15 minutes 5 times this week.
January 11 (week 3): Walk 20 minutes 5 times this week.
January 18 (week 4): Walk 20 minutes 5 times, exchange 1 unhealthy snack to a raw fruit or vegetable(s) for each day.
January 25 (week 5): Walk 20 minutes 5 times, exchange 1 unhealthy snack to a raw fruit or vegetable(s) for each day, every day this week do a brain activity (crossword puzzle, read, card game, etc.) in exchange for watching TV.
February 1 (week 6): Walk 25 minutes 5 times, exchange 1 unhealthy snack to a raw fruit or vegetable each day, do a brain activity every day.
So, you get the idea. Make up your own schedule and vow to stick with it. If there’s a bad habit you want to change like smoking. Don’t worry about going cold-turkey. Just count out your cigarettes for the day (making it one less each week) and stretch them out throughout the day. By the time you get down to just a few it will be easy to just top as most of the cravings will be gone. Don’t beat yourself up if you fall off your timetable every now and then, just jump back on.
