1/13/15 As a side note: since I wrote this 12 days ago, I canceled my gym membership that I wasn't using, started keeping the TV off more, and made myself a detailed organizer for the year. (Color coded and all!) I am down 3 lbs! Simple lifestyle changes have worked for me, and I hope that they can work for you as well!
Why should you NOT make a new years resolution? Because it will stress you out, you wont follow through, you'll waste money and get frustrated. (Don't lie, you know at least one of those things will happen from making an unrealistic resolution.) Instead what you SHOULD do, is set goals. Set lots of goals. Don't set a year long goal, that is far too long to make it an accomplishment and be proud of it without slip ups.
How are goals different from a resolution? You set many of them, not just one. You also give yourself short time limits. For example, don't say "I'm going to lose weight this year". That will NOT help you at all. Do NOT go and sign up for a gym membership that you wont use, or go on a "diet". None of that will help you one single bit. Instead you should do the following;
- If you want to lose weight, give yourself two week increments, how much do you want to lose every two weeks? Set a reasonable goal of say one pound per week, and then move on to HOW you are going to do this.
- If you want to exercise more, do NOT sign up for a gym membership. First you should start a plan at home. Begin with, for example, walking every day as well as doing yoga at home. If you're not exercising now, going to a gym will not help, it will cause many body aches and stress that you don't want. Start small, and once you're used to that add in other things. There are many at home things such as Zumba and at home workouts without equipment that will help you lose weight without spending a fortune. Once you are used to this new lifestyle of exercising every day at home, then proceed to go to the gym, your body will be ready.
- If you want to eat healthier, do NOT do it all at once. Your body will not like you at all. Start small. The first week or two give yourself a goal, maybe its cutting back on soda, or eating fruits and veggies every day. Keep your goals reachable. If you do good eating a certain number of servings of fruits and veggies each day, then add in other things and slowly eliminate those unhealthy foods.
- If you want to organize your home, each week set a goal of what room or area you want to organize. Rather than doing it all at once, this will help to keep your stress levels down while going through your entire home.
"By setting small goals, you will feel far more accomplished when you reach each one."