"New Year's resolutions" and "better health" tend to go hand in hand. Whether the goal is get rid of unwanted weight, stop smoking, drink less, or choosing to eat healthier, many of changes people want to make are about living a healthy life. If you want to stick to your resolutions, there are a few key things you may want to do about two weeks before you are set to start.
Know your goals: While long-term goals are most important, you cannot neglect the short-term goals? People often dismiss short-term goals, but they are necessary accomplishing long-term goals. The plan to lose 20 pounds in four months is a good long-term goal, but the daily tasks to get to lose the weight can be rather daunting.
To help you lose those 20 pounds in for months, you may want to think about using short-term goals to help you get the job done. This can be something like eating more servings of fruit and vegetables per day for the first few weeks. After those three weeks, you can think about doing something like increasing cardio exercises by a specific amount of minutes each session for the next four weeks. By developing shorter goals you are able to chop your long-term goal into smaller more attainable goals. As a result you increase your chances of actually getting rid of those unwanted 20 pounds.
Know your weaknesses: If there is anything that is going to keep you from reaching your long-term goals, get rid of it. If it is something that needs to be removed from your house, ask someone else to keep it. If it is a store or restaurant, avoid it all cost; even if it means you have take a different route to do so. And forget about trying to be strong and tempting yourself. Instead admit your weakness and just stay away from the temptation.
Find something that will make you stronger and substitute it for your weakness. For example, instead of purchasing that chocolate bar at the store, get some flowers and put them around the house to remind you how good you are doing!
Get a support system: A support system is a good way to stay motivated because you will not want to let the people down who are holding you accountable. Enlist family members, friends, or even an internet health site as a part of your support system.
Keep a journal: A journal is a good way to gauge what you are doing through your journey towards accomplishing your long-term goals. Write down your feelings as you accomplished your day-to-day tasks. Ask yourself is you encountered any pitfalls and determine how you can avoid them in the future. Write down thoughts about your goals or life in general, being as upbeat as you can when recounting your experiences. As your week ends, read your journal from the page one to the most recent date to help you start the coming week inspired and ready to go.
A good way to remind yourself of your goals is to get a calendar for the New Year, two index cards, a marker, and a pencil. The first thing you should do is write your long-term goal on the index cards with the marker. Next, pin or tape one card next to the calendar on the wall and the other card on the bathroom mirror.
On your calendar, write your long-term goal on the date you wish to accomplish it and circle the date with the marker. With your pencil, write the short-term goals on your calendar, circling those dates as well. Also, write down the specific day-to-day things you're going to do (i.e. details of your workout session, meal plans, water amounts, etc.) that are the basic foundation for your long-term goal in your planner, Blackberry, or whatever you use daily to log in your important dates.
Consistently using these tips will help you reach that goal and live a healthier life! Remember to celebrate all your successes, big or small, and if you veer off course, it's never too late to get back on again. - 15343
Know your goals: While long-term goals are most important, you cannot neglect the short-term goals? People often dismiss short-term goals, but they are necessary accomplishing long-term goals. The plan to lose 20 pounds in four months is a good long-term goal, but the daily tasks to get to lose the weight can be rather daunting.
To help you lose those 20 pounds in for months, you may want to think about using short-term goals to help you get the job done. This can be something like eating more servings of fruit and vegetables per day for the first few weeks. After those three weeks, you can think about doing something like increasing cardio exercises by a specific amount of minutes each session for the next four weeks. By developing shorter goals you are able to chop your long-term goal into smaller more attainable goals. As a result you increase your chances of actually getting rid of those unwanted 20 pounds.
Know your weaknesses: If there is anything that is going to keep you from reaching your long-term goals, get rid of it. If it is something that needs to be removed from your house, ask someone else to keep it. If it is a store or restaurant, avoid it all cost; even if it means you have take a different route to do so. And forget about trying to be strong and tempting yourself. Instead admit your weakness and just stay away from the temptation.
Find something that will make you stronger and substitute it for your weakness. For example, instead of purchasing that chocolate bar at the store, get some flowers and put them around the house to remind you how good you are doing!
Get a support system: A support system is a good way to stay motivated because you will not want to let the people down who are holding you accountable. Enlist family members, friends, or even an internet health site as a part of your support system.
Keep a journal: A journal is a good way to gauge what you are doing through your journey towards accomplishing your long-term goals. Write down your feelings as you accomplished your day-to-day tasks. Ask yourself is you encountered any pitfalls and determine how you can avoid them in the future. Write down thoughts about your goals or life in general, being as upbeat as you can when recounting your experiences. As your week ends, read your journal from the page one to the most recent date to help you start the coming week inspired and ready to go.
A good way to remind yourself of your goals is to get a calendar for the New Year, two index cards, a marker, and a pencil. The first thing you should do is write your long-term goal on the index cards with the marker. Next, pin or tape one card next to the calendar on the wall and the other card on the bathroom mirror.
On your calendar, write your long-term goal on the date you wish to accomplish it and circle the date with the marker. With your pencil, write the short-term goals on your calendar, circling those dates as well. Also, write down the specific day-to-day things you're going to do (i.e. details of your workout session, meal plans, water amounts, etc.) that are the basic foundation for your long-term goal in your planner, Blackberry, or whatever you use daily to log in your important dates.
Consistently using these tips will help you reach that goal and live a healthier life! Remember to celebrate all your successes, big or small, and if you veer off course, it's never too late to get back on again. - 15343
About the Author:
Anne Maxwell a.k.a. "Schmoozi-Q" is the resident editor of Health Information at http://www.Schmoozins.com - an online magazine for women that gives all women a voice. Join us as a contributor, schmoozer or just hang out a while.
