New Year, New Resolutions: How to Make and Keep Them

Happy New Year! Are you ready to make changes and stick with them? Valley Health’s Wellness Services Department provides several tips to help you choose the right focus, create a plan, and remain committed.

Getting Started

Consider these questions when crafting your New Year’s resolutions:

• Are you excited about your goal(s)?
• Is it your goal or someone else’s?
• Does the goal fit with your life priorities?
• How important is the goal?

The better your plan, the better your chances of success. You can enhance your success by setting S.M.A.R.T. goals. Keep a record of what you plan to do and measure your progress until completion:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Action-oriented
• Realistic
• Timed

Sticking to Your Goals

It’s important to set goals within the resolution to help track your progress. These can include midway goals or breaking the goals down into small steps. For example, if your resolution is to exercise more frequently, don’t start with a large goal like working out every day. Instead, start by going 2-3 times per week, then gradually add a day. This will help you avoid burnout and give your body time to rest in between workouts.

Another way stay true to your goals is to write them down on paper or in your phone’s notes app. Several free smartphone apps are also available to help you schedule and track goals.

As you’re making progress, it can be easy to hit a mental roadblock or mind trap. Here are some common mind traps and ways to work through them:

• You’re becoming impatient waiting for results: Have patience, be flexible, and remember that reaching your goals is a process that won’t yield immediate results when done correctly.
• You’re having trouble sticking to your goals: Ask yourself, “Why isn’t this working?” and try a Root Cause Analysis.

If you’re reading this blog, congratulations! That means you’ve already taken a step toward setting, working toward, and completing your goals.

If it’s been a while since you’ve had a wellness visit, now is a great time to get an appointment on the calendar. Wellness visits are a great way to discuss your health and wellness goals with your provider and let them help you create goals tailored to you and your body. During your wellness visit, your provider can also make sure you’re up-to-date on vaccines, blood tests, and other important health measures.

Don’t have a provider? Click here to search for a provider close to you! Valley Health Primary Care providers are available across the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.