Written by Lauren Murphy, SIU School of Medicine
Whether it’s working off that layer of winter warmth you gained during the holidays or managing your debt a little better, New Year’s resolutions can be tricky to maintain. Some sources report that only eight percent of Americans stick with their January goals.
With the help of Jeanne Hansen, mental health counselor at the SIU School of Medicine, you can make 2015 your best year yet!
1. Set specific, realistic goals: Start the year off right by setting small, attainable goals. “I think any time we are realistic with ourselves, we are much more likely to keep with the resolution and attain success,” explains Hansen. If you want to hit the gym more often, realize you probably won’t make it seven days a week. Instead, set a date with the treadmill three or four times a week. If you are a bit of fast food junkie but want to lose weight in 2015, start by limiting the number of times you visit McDonald’s each week.
2. Share your goals with friends and family members:  Those around you can be great support system, especially when your motivation is waning. According to Hansen, “What makes a New Year’s resolution successful is willingness to share what those resolutions or those goals are. You kind of hold yourself accountable then and then you have friends or family or supportive people in your corner asking how things are going and holding your feet to the fire, so to speak.”
3. Track your progress: Hansen says to write things down. Consider keeping a calendar and mark the days you work out. Or, keep a food diary. Seeing your behaviors on paper can keep you motivated or help you recognize where you’re falling short.
4. Reward small goals: “Rewarding yourself for making those small steps toward accomplishing some of those goals and resolutions are great ways to increase the likelihood of success,” suggests Hansen. If you make it to the gym four times a week, give yourself a small reward, such as a new water bottle to use at the gym. Or, if you go a full week without fast food, go see a movie using the money you would have spent in the drive-thru.
5. Realize you’re only human: At some point during your journey to becoming healthier or debt-free, you will likely slip up at least once, and that’s okay. Let your mistake(s) motivate you to do better in the future and realize you’ve already taken the first step to a better life. “Make those goals; just the simple act of making them is going to set you on the right path to achieving them,” says Hansen.
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