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Resolved: Keep those promises to yourself
By Sara Siekierski
Daily News staff writer
When the clock rang in the promise of a fresh new year at midnight New Year's Day, it may have been easy to imagine achieving all of those New Year's resolutions.
Even a week later, keeping those goals still may feel like a piece of cake. You're hitting the gym daily, cutting back on expenses or trying your best to not put that cigarette in your mouth. But what happens as the year goes on and other priorities take over?
“Make yourself a priority,” said Liz Bockman, owner and operator of Everyday Etiquette in Northern Illinois. “If you don't make yourself a priority, then it's not going to happen.”
It takes 6-8 weeks for a behavior to become a habit, Bockman said, so that means documenting everything: your goals, steps to reach those goals and even the failures along the way.
Breaking a larger goal into smaller steps is often the easiest way to stay on target. When planning out your steps to reach the goal, be very specific. Also, you should have a deadline. For example, say you want to lose 10 pounds in five weeks. Since it's healthiest to lose no more than two pounds per week, map out what you will do each week, Bockman suggested. After planning the steps, ask yourself if you can do them. If not, break them down further.
As you're taking the steps to reach your goal, it's important to keep track of your progress, said Tonya Ramsey, owner and operator of Life By Design in Beloit.
“Celebrating the little milestones is really important when implementing new changes in your life,” Ramsey said.
Even if it's just a small victory, celebrate it. This will help keep you on track and prevent you from feeling like a failure if you don't reach your goal as soon as you expected. Often people give up on their resolutions because they don't do well during a particular week or feel as though they've made no progress toward their goal, Ramsey said.
“Give yourself a break,” she said. “Look at resolutions as positive changes that you are making in your life. Take it from that direction.”
So if you feel as though you failed, ask yourself why, Bockman said, and then find another way to get around it.
“It doesn't mean you fail,” she said. “You only fail when you try not to succeed.”
When you're setting new goals, engage in positive self talk, Ramsey suggested. Instead of berating yourself because you missed a week of exercise, flip that thought and congratulate yourself for the previous week of exercise.
Ramsey and Bockman also suggest finding a buddy who's willing to support you and help you make those changes. Also, do some research to find out how best to reach your goals, Bockman said. Talk to other people, check out books and attend seminars.
“Learn to be resourceful,” Bockman said. “One way may not always work for you. Be willing to adapt. If there's anything that's consistent in this world, that is change. Be willing to adapt to change.”
Still feeling like you just don't have enough hours in your day to make those resolutions a reality?
“If it's important, you make time for it,” Ramsey said.
When people really add up their time in a week, even taking out sleeping and working time, there are still several hours left over, Ramsey said. Try making an all-inclusive calendar that includes not only regular appointments but also time for yourself, your family and your goals. This will send the message that these things are just as important as other appointments.
And know that reaching your goals will take time.
“If you know it takes time, if you put yourself as the priority, you'll succeed,” Bockman said.
Daily News staff writer
When the clock rang in the promise of a fresh new year at midnight New Year's Day, it may have been easy to imagine achieving all of those New Year's resolutions.
Even a week later, keeping those goals still may feel like a piece of cake. You're hitting the gym daily, cutting back on expenses or trying your best to not put that cigarette in your mouth. But what happens as the year goes on and other priorities take over?
“Make yourself a priority,” said Liz Bockman, owner and operator of Everyday Etiquette in Northern Illinois. “If you don't make yourself a priority, then it's not going to happen.”
It takes 6-8 weeks for a behavior to become a habit, Bockman said, so that means documenting everything: your goals, steps to reach those goals and even the failures along the way.
Breaking a larger goal into smaller steps is often the easiest way to stay on target. When planning out your steps to reach the goal, be very specific. Also, you should have a deadline. For example, say you want to lose 10 pounds in five weeks. Since it's healthiest to lose no more than two pounds per week, map out what you will do each week, Bockman suggested. After planning the steps, ask yourself if you can do them. If not, break them down further.
As you're taking the steps to reach your goal, it's important to keep track of your progress, said Tonya Ramsey, owner and operator of Life By Design in Beloit.
“Celebrating the little milestones is really important when implementing new changes in your life,” Ramsey said.
Even if it's just a small victory, celebrate it. This will help keep you on track and prevent you from feeling like a failure if you don't reach your goal as soon as you expected. Often people give up on their resolutions because they don't do well during a particular week or feel as though they've made no progress toward their goal, Ramsey said.
“Give yourself a break,” she said. “Look at resolutions as positive changes that you are making in your life. Take it from that direction.”
So if you feel as though you failed, ask yourself why, Bockman said, and then find another way to get around it.
“It doesn't mean you fail,” she said. “You only fail when you try not to succeed.”
When you're setting new goals, engage in positive self talk, Ramsey suggested. Instead of berating yourself because you missed a week of exercise, flip that thought and congratulate yourself for the previous week of exercise.
Ramsey and Bockman also suggest finding a buddy who's willing to support you and help you make those changes. Also, do some research to find out how best to reach your goals, Bockman said. Talk to other people, check out books and attend seminars.
“Learn to be resourceful,” Bockman said. “One way may not always work for you. Be willing to adapt. If there's anything that's consistent in this world, that is change. Be willing to adapt to change.”
Still feeling like you just don't have enough hours in your day to make those resolutions a reality?
“If it's important, you make time for it,” Ramsey said.
When people really add up their time in a week, even taking out sleeping and working time, there are still several hours left over, Ramsey said. Try making an all-inclusive calendar that includes not only regular appointments but also time for yourself, your family and your goals. This will send the message that these things are just as important as other appointments.
And know that reaching your goals will take time.
“If you know it takes time, if you put yourself as the priority, you'll succeed,” Bockman said.
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