Resolutions You Can Keep for a Better Year, All Year!

Do you make New Year’s resolutions or simply ignore the usual January brouhaha? Regardless, the secret to sticking to your good intentions is shrinking them down, ticking them off and reaching your big goals one small step at a time. I call this the “1 degree of change”.

Picture this: if an airplane on a flight from one city to another is off course by just one degree, that airplane will never reach its destination. In fact, it would end up hundreds of miles from its original goal. The one-degree-of-change is true for your health, and your life, as well. Make the choice to begin each day with one degree of positive change and watch your health and your life transform. Here my top tips:

1. Be Realistic

I’m all for promoting anything that prompts positive changes but you will have a better chance of sticking with attainable goals if you break them down into micro steps. You can always raise the bar once you have achieved your first goal.
Here are some examples of how you can rephrase vague statements with more specific micro actions:

• Instead of… 
• I’m going to eat healthy
• Rephrase with…
• I will add a colorful mixed vegetables salad to every lunch

• Instead of… 
• I’ll exercise for 1 hour daily
• Rephrase with…
• I’ll move for 10 minutes 3 times per day

• Instead of… 
• I’m going to lose 10 pounds
• Rephrase with…
• I’ll weight myself daily to stay on track

• Instead of… 
• I’ll spend more time with family
• Rephrase with…
• I’ll put my phone away at every family meal

• Instead of… 
• I’ll get more sleep
• Rephrase with…
• I’ll go to bed 15 minutes earlier on weeknights

2. Unplug from the News

Have you noticed how 90% of the news coverage is negative and puts a heavy emphasis on crime even though U.S. crime rates continue to decline? Studies show that violence, death and other negative images can provoke and aggravate anxiety and sadness, leading to a negative view of your own life. Perceiving the world as violent, unsafe and hostile can have negative effects on your body as I demonstrate in the below video: The Power of Thoughts & How They Affect Your Health. Avoiding news on television, in newspapers or on the Internet for a few days, or even a few weeks (months?) may help renew your spirits and revive your health.