It seems that as each New Year comes around, I end up saying the same old thing: I resolve to get healthier. While I seem to make great progress in the beginning, I have noticed that sometimes I allow myself to fall into certain patterns that cause me to not follow through on my goals. This year, instead of focusing on just getting healthy, I have decided to make a list of the following resolutions that will hopefully help change the way I view myself in this world. After all, doesn’t a sound mind help lead to a sound body? Couldn’t hurt to try, right?
My Five New Year’s Resolutions
I Resolve to Be More Positive About Myself
This should be common sense to me, but somehow it seems to be the hardest concept to grasp. How on earth can I lose weight or even just begin to get healthy if I continuously call myself fat? This year I am going to try and end all the negativity and simply start noticing the good things that I have to offer, as well as all the wonderful things that I have accomplished in my life. I am more than just a body shape, and it is about time I start realizing that.
I Resolve to Start Slow
Another problem I seem to have is that I want to dive into everything head on, which also means that I expect to see results almost instantly. When I don’t, then I simply get upset, or possibly even depressed. This time around I plan to simply start slowly, giving myself little goals to achieve (such as walking for 10 to 20 minutes per day or substituting potato chips with carrot sticks) that can eventually be expanded on. The more little successes I have, the more I will believe I can accomplish.
I Resolve to Say Thank You to Compliments
Stop me if you have never done this before: Someone gives you a compliment, such as “Your eyes are just gorgeous,” and you simply dismiss it with some variation of “No?” A friend of mine once told me that not only is this sort of rude, it also means you won’t ever believe it. To combat this, I plan to simply say “Thank You” to the person giving the compliment. It will not only make me more polite, but will allow me to start believing that perhaps what that person is saying might actually be true. I just have to make sure I do not let it all go to my head.
I Resolve to Not Beat Myself Up Mentally if I Have a Set-Back
As much as I want to avoid set-backs, I have to accept the fact that they probably will happen. They might actually happen more than once. But instead of calling myself a loser, I am simply going to take a deep breath and start all over. Tomorrow is another day, and I simply cannot waste time wallowing in self-pity if I have things to accomplish.
I Resolve to Make Time for Myself
The biggest excuse I give is that I do not have time to do the things I need to in order to be healthy, or that I just can never find any “me” time. Somehow I have convinced myself that I am being selfish for wanting any time to myself, especially when I could be spending time with friends and family, but the truth is, a little time dedicated to you is okay. So instead sitting in front of the TV, I’ll just set my DVR and possibly take a nice walk around the block, or perhaps actually get over my fear of the gym (don’t ask) and get myself over there. I actually have more time than I think; I just need to open my eyes and look for it.
What resolutions are you planning to make for the New Year?