New Year’s Resolutions: Are Your Goals Achievable?

Every year people make resolutions to ring at the start of a new year. Many make goals like working out more, eating better, losing weight, etc. but did you know that most people give up on their resolutions after 3 to 4 weeks? Many people make the same common resolutions without clear goals, which results in them giving up. This year we not only made a list of New Year’s resolutions that you should try to achieve but also resolutions that you should avoid.

New Year’s Resolutions to Achieve:

1. Eat More Whole Foods
   This helps improve your overall health. Including more whole foods can be done at your own pace in your diet. Try adding more fruits and veggies little by little.
2. Move More
   Exercising improves general health. Take the pressure away from the gym and make smaller goals. For example, make it a personal goal to walk 4 days a week.
3. Cut Back on Sweetened Beverages
   Cutting back on sweetened beverages can help lose weight and improve tooth health. Try to gradually minimize your sweet beverage intake and increase your water intake. Remember that you can still enjoy sweet drinks here and there because everyone deserves a treat.
   
4. Get Quality Sleep
   We spend so much of our lives sleeping, might as well make the most of it. Come up with a nighttime routine that works for you. This also helps with mood, stress, and staying more awake during daytime hours.
5. Find a Hobby that Keeps you Moving
   Just like moving a little more each day, finding a new hobby that helps you physically could be the right thing for you. There are many things to try, even classes, like cycling, swimming, and jogging.
6. Drink Less Alcohol
   Drinking less allows you to have higher energy levels, get better sleep, and help with other health factors. Of course, it is still okay to enjoy an alcoholic beverage once in a while, but trying to cut back helps your overall health.
   
7. Limit Screen Time
   It is hard to escape from screens because of phones, tablets, and even televisions. However, limiting screen time helps you get better sleep, lowers stress, and helps your eyes from being strained by the blue light these devices give off.
8. Go Outside
   Nature makes you feel more active, and relaxed, improves concentration, and helps elevate your vitamin D levels. Going outside once a day should be a goal we all strive for.
9. Work on Mental Health
   Mental health can be a tough subject for many people, but there are things you can do at home to help. Many people try to find stress relievers and fidget rings to help with anxiety, and now you can use telehealth to speak with a therapist that can help you take steps to improve your mental health. Our mental health affects our physical health more than we may think. Check-in with yourself whenever you can.
   
10. Visit Your Doctors
    You should visit your doctor at least once a year for a physical. Especially if you need screenings such as STD tests, mammograms, and prostate tests, stay up to date with your doctor. This also includes OBGYN, dentists, and eye doctors to keep your health at its best.

What New Year’s Resolutions to Avoid:

1. Excessive Workouts
   Going from not working out at all to working out every day is unhealthy. Give your body time to adjust to going every day or every few days. Also, remember your body needs rest days to heal and get stronger. Excessively working out will not give you the results you want right away. Getting the body you want is a balance between working out, eating right, and resting.
   
2. Extreme Weight Loss Goals
   While weight loss seems to be one of the top resolutions people make, it is also one of the hardest. Getting results takes time, and losing weight too quickly can have negative impacts on your body instead of positive ones. Losing 1 to 2 pounds every few weeks is a better goal to aim for. Make sure your goals fit you and your body.
3. Fixating on a Scale
   While a scale is one way to see your weight, this isn’t always the healthiest way to approach losing/gaining weight. Looking at a scale can lead to stress, and depression, and even affect you physically. Talk to your doctor if you are worried about your weight to figure out what works best for you.
   
4. Too Many Resolutions
   One of the biggest problems is making too many resolutions. While we did write 10 good resolutions above, you should only choose 2 to 3. Focusing on fewer resolutions helps you focus better and makes goals easier to achieve. Otherwise, these resolutions become too overwhelming rather than helpful.
5. Recycling Past Years Resolutions
   Many people recycle their resolutions from last year isn’t a good idea. There can be several reasons why those passed resolutions didn’t work but reusing them doesn’t help. Instead, try to figure out why those past ones didn’t work, and try to make smaller achievable goals to move in the right direction. This is not to say your resolution won’t work, but a plan to reach specific goals could be the key to succeeding.