New Year resolutions

Lose weight- pay debts- exercise - stop smoking - start your own business - save money - have children?

It is always exciting to make New Year resolutions. It helps us to be more motivated and move forward for the coming New Year.

Here are some tips to help you to achieve those resolutions:

• Start small
  Make resolutions that you think you can keep. If, for example, your aim is to exercise more frequently, schedule three or four days a week at the gym instead of seven. If you would like to eat healthier, try replacing dessert with something else you enjoy, like fruit or yogurt, instead of seeing your diet as a form of punishment.
• Change one behavior at a time
  Unhealthy behaviors develop over time. Replacing unhealthy behaviors with healthy ones requires time. Do not get overwhelmed and think that you have to reassess everything in your life. Instead, work toward changing one thing at a time.
• Talk about it
  Share your experiences with family and friends. Consider joining a support group to reach your goals, such as a workout class at your gym or a group of coworkers quitting smoking. Having someone to share your struggles and success with makes your journey to a healthier lifestyle easier and less intimidating.
• Don’t beat yourself up
  Perfection is unattainable. Remember that minor missteps when reaching your goals are completely normal. Do not give up completely because you ate a brownie and broke your diet, or skipped the gym for a week because you were busy. Everyone has ups and downs; resolve to recover from your mistakes and get back on track.
• Ask for support
  Accepting help from those who care about you and will listen strengthens your resilience and ability to manage the stress caused by your resolution. If you feel overwhelmed or unable to meet goals on your own, consider seeking professional help. Psychologists are uniquely trained to understand the connection between the mind and body. They can offer strategies as to how to adjust your goals so that they are attainable, as well as help you change unhealthy behaviors and address emotional issues.

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