UnityPoint Health Board of Directors - Quad Cities recently issued the following announcement.
We’re nearing the start of the New Year which means a chance for some new beginnings. Many popular goals with the turning of a new calendar page are weight loss, saving money or learning a new skill. Regardless of your goals, there are some basic components that are vital to your success in achieving them. Here are a few that you should add to your personal toolkit this year.
Avoid the Term “New Year’s Resolution.” It’s notoriously associated with broken promises and half-hearted attempts at self-improvement so do away with uttering these words. Instead, carve out goals and make them specific and realistic enough to achieve beyond the first couple of months of the year. You want to focus on changes for the long haul.
Readiness. Keep in mind that goals, whether they’re health, career, financial, social, or family related goals, should be set at a time when you’re ready to make a commitment to them. We always use the New Year as the starting point to change out our “bad” behaviors for healthy ones, but for some of us, that is not always the ideal time. You should start working on your plan whenever you feel the time is appropriate.
Healthy Mindset. Creating and pursuing any goal requires a healthy mindset. This involves understanding and accepting the challenges that are associated with making a behavior change. Don’t let yourself fall into the “all or nothing” mindset and expect perfection through this process. Mindsets strengthen naturally when people set realistic goals around their lifestyles.
Confidence. Having self-confidence that you can achieve something can be invaluable. Start by reflecting on past experiences in which you were successful and apply that to your current goal. Don’t forget to celebrate your successes and, if you’re comfortable, shout it from the rooftops. If you have a fitness-related goal, for example, tell family, friends and your gym buddies about it becoming part of your weekly routine. If you’re into social media, post updates on your progress. Social support can help you stay accountable.
Motivation. What makes you excited about the goal you set? Make sure the driving force behind it is based off something that is important for you, not to please others. It also helps to surround yourself with positive messages. Feed the mind with positive quotes or motivational messages. There are many social media accounts that revolve around sharing inspirational quotes and thoughts.
Gratitude. Thinking mainly about what has gone wrong is human nature. It’s easy to get caught up in these negative thoughts and let them take over. Outweighing these negative thoughts with positive affirmations on what is going well can be powerful. Here’s where a journal can come in handy. If you’re not into drawn-out reflections in written form, try starting off each day by jotting down at least three positive things that make you feel grateful and optimistic.
Support. The more friends, family, and/or colleagues you can gain support from, the easier changing a behavior becomes. By making those who are closest to you aware of your goals, you can create a more supportive environment with fewer barriers, temptations anddistractions. Try searching for groups or online communities geared toward whatever your goal is to make connections with others who are on a similar journey.
Don’t skip making your goals for a healthier life this year! UnityPoint Health – Trinity’s Wellness department is a dynamic service line working extensively to provide the Quad Cities community tools and resources for a healthy and balanced life.
Original source can be found here.
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