As the clock strikes midnight on a New Year, millions of Americans will embark on another year of resolutions. In fact, 40% of people have made a New Year’s Resolution this year.
What exactly are we, as a society, resolving to change? Some of the top resolutions made each year include things like losing weight, eating healthier, and exercising more. With resolutions for better health and wellness, why then are we not becoming collectively healthier?
While 40% of people make resolutions each year, only 9% of those individuals will see them through to completion! Twenty-three percent of people quit in the first week, while only 36% will still be working towards their resolution goals in February.
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Why Resolutions Don’t Stick
Maybe it’s the excitement of the celebration. Maybe it’s tradition. Or maybe it’s the rush of the “new year new you” culture that has American’s fixated on making annual resolutions only to give up after a few weeks. So why do we make resolutions? We want something different. What better time than the New Year to feel the endless possibilities for change and personal growth?
The problem is that many resolutions are arbitrary goals with unrealistic timelines. Our lofty ideas get the best of us as we see ad after ad for fad diets and get fit quick programs across the web. But there’s a better way!
From Resolution to Lifestyle
In order to shift our resolution from a vague dream to a realized goal, we must make changes to our lifestyle. This is where we will see true and lasting change. Does this mean we shouldn’t take this new year as an opportunity to set goals and make resolutions? Absolutely not. But it means that we need to make SMART resolutions in order to see a change.
Smart Resolutions
How can we make resolutions this year that become goals instead of forgotten fleeting January thoughts? We need to make them SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.
Specific
When creating a resolution, it is important to be specific. One of the reasons that many resolutions fail is that they are too broad. For example, don’t simply resolve to lose weight. Give yourself a specific weight goal or weight benchmarks that you wish to achieve. Determine what weight loss specifically looks like for you.
Are you wanting to exercise more? How much more? Are you going to do cardio? Lift weights? Count your steps? Maybe you want to eat more vegetables, drink more water, or eat meals with less fat or sugar. Take those goals and make them specific.
Measurable
Not only are resolutions lost because they are vague, but because they cannot be measured. How do you know if you have reached your resolution goal? Do you have a goal weight? A number of exercises you wish to accomplish per week? Cups of water to consume each day?
Attainable
It’s easy to get excited about a new year filled with new plans for health and fitness. But if your goal is to lose 100 pounds in January, bench press 500 lbs when you’ve never lifted a weight, or run a marathon after week 1, it might be time to revisit those goals.
One of the best ways to make a resolution stick is to make it attainable. Give yourself a reasonable goal with a reasonable time table. If you aren’t sure what that looks like, speak with your health coach, doctor, or upper cervical chiropractor to help determine the best way to set realistic and attainable goals for your health in 2023.
Relevant
If you hate running, but your New Year’s resolution is to run a marathon, chances are you will quickly abandon your goal. Ensure that your resolution is relevant to your lifestyle, dreams, desires, and can easily become a long-term investment.
Time-bound
Adding a timetable or deadline to your resolution can inspire you to action. For example, you may wish to lose half a pound each week, exercise three times per week, walk 10,000 steps a day, or drink a gallon of water every 24 hours. By making your resolution time-specific, you create a motivator while also helping to determine the attainability of those goals.
Resolution Pit Falls
Creating SMART resolutions is the first step in setting yourself up for a successful 2023. But there are some pitfalls and missteps to be cautious about as you aspire to a happier, healthier you.
Recognize Perfectionism
When developing a plan, it is easy to allow perfectionistic tendencies to sabotage your success. Just because you didn’t hit your step goal today doesn’t mean you can’t tomorrow. Even if you ate an extra cookie today at lunch doesn’t mean you need to give up on a healthy dinner. Every step in the right direction is progress, so seek progress over perfection.
One Step at a Time
Maybe you have a few things in your life that you would like to improve. Take your health journey one step at a time. Just like a science fair project, change one variable at a time to discover the result. Changing one thing allows you to see how your body responds, what works, and what is next.
How Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Can Impact Your Resolution
One resolution that we all can make this year is to get our head on straight! Your upper cervical chiropractor works to correct misalignments in the spine that have been leading to pain and illness from miscommunication within your body.
How Does This Impact Resolutions?
When the alignment is restored, the brain-body connection is restored. This means that your body is able to function as intended. As your body naturally heals itself from the inside out the result is more energy, better sleep, and even relief from health issues.
Imagine embarking on your New Year’s Resolution journey with fewer migraines, better digestion, less pain, more mobility, and so much more. Schedule a consultation with your upper cervical chiropractor today and help make 2023 the best year yet.