Healing with Hillary Blog & News
12/29: My Resolution is to Not Make Resolutions
Posted on: Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Keywords: Resolutions, Healthy, Physically, Confidence, Yoga, Pilates, Gym, Protein
Okay, I am not encouraging everyone out there to be a rebel... although we do know that there is something particularly alluring about those "rebel" types...
What I am encouraging is multiple mini motivations (mmm). It is a lot easier to have a happy and healthy mind and body when we can set a goal and achieve that goal. Mentally it gives us a huge positive boost to our self confidence and pride (mmm, feels good!). Physically we have an abundance of feel good happy endorphins floating around (mmm, feels good!). The more goals we can achieve, the better we will feel, so set a few mini motivations and start feeling great (mmm, I LOVE that feeling!).
Also keep in mind any physical changes, like exercise and weight loss, should be gradual so we don't put our bodies into shock with all its new expectations. Perfect for mmm. For more ideas on getting started on goals see my blog, Baby Steps.
One of my all time favorite sayings, which is perfect for this time of year, goes something like this: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. I don't know where it originated, but the author was either a genius or having a genius moment.
I'm pretty sure none of us think of ourselves as "insane" (although I know I accuse my kids of driving me there multiple times a day). So why do we continue to do the same thing daily, monthly, yearly, even for decades and expect to get our goals met? I know why! Humans are creatures of habit!! We get so engrained in what's comfortable and familiar that we don't want to lose that cozy feeling of familiarity.
Here's a typical example: Come home from work (taking the same route you've taken for as long as you can remember), hang keys on hook, hang coat in closet (or drape over couch), pat the dog on the head, go to the kitchen, open fridge, close fridge, opt for bag of chips from cupboard and proceed to couch. Seems pretty typical and simple, but every single one of these behaviors can be modified to meet some of the most common New Year's goals people have.
- Come home from work.
- Go to yoga/pilates/gym on way home from work. - Hang keys on hook and coat in closet/couch.
- Can change to putting them wherever you think would be a better place to reduce your house clutter. - Pat the dog on head.
- Take the dog for a walk/run. - Go to kitchen, open/close fridge.
- Choose protein shake, orange juice or something else with an energy boost to get you to dinner time. - Choose chips.
- Choose fresh veggies like carrots, celery, or broccoli (these all come pre cut in a package if you don’t have time to cut them yourself) or choose almonds or other nuts. - Proceed to couch.
- Proceed to recumbent bike, treadmill, elliptical OR
- Proceed to couch with shake, OJ, veggies and/or nuts.
My point is: The hardest part about sticking to a New Year's resolution is NOT making the resolution; it IS changing our creature comforts (habits) into new routines. I've offered some great suggestions in my Baby Steps blog, check it out for some more encouragement. :-)
Don't be afraid of change; be EXCITED about the progress it brings!
MMM, it feels GOOD!
I know I am very excited for 2011! Bring it on! I am jumping in with both feet!
Happy New Year to you all!
Be safe,
Dr B
See Dr. Botta's Practitioner Page
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