The New Year has arrived, and with it, your resolutions for
the New Year. High expectations, good
intentions, will power, motivation, … and then the thought “Whose Idea was this
anyway?” You can blame it on the Romans!! New Year's Resolutions date back to 153 B.C.,
when Janus, a mythical king of early Rome, was placed at the head of the
calendar. Janus’ two faces could look
back on past events and look forward to the future. King Janus soon became the ancient symbol for
resolutions and many Romans sought forgiveness from their enemies (for past
events), as well as exchanged gifts (for future goodwill). Over the years, this symbolic act has transformed
into personal reflections of the past and changing personal behaviors to
positively affect the future.
How can you positively affect the changes you seek in your personal life?
- Be specific about your resolution; make realistic, measurable goals and write them down.
- Limit the number of resolutions you make.
- Post your list in a visible place to serve as a reminder and to encourage yourself.
- Enlist the support of your friends and family.
- Take action immediately! Make important appointments with a doctor, dietitian, or counselor. Sign up for a gym membership or buy any equipment you need.
Practice those new behaviors that encourage your success. Want to stop smoking? Don't hang out in smoke-filled bars or
casinos. Want to lose weight? Don't bring desserts, junk food, candy or ice
cream into the house. Limit your exposure to people who are likely to encourage
resolution-breaking. Surround yourself
with good, supportive friends, not people who sabotage or belittle your efforts.
Set incremental goals and reward yourself for partial
successes. Lost the first 5 pounds? Celebrate with a massage. Ran
your first 5k? Treat yourself to a new
fitness outfit. Substitute a good habit for the bad one you want to break.
If your goal is to eat less junk food, find a healthy food you love. If you
want to spend more time with your family, establish a special time during the
week when everyone is together.
Setbacks…
Keeping New Year’s Resolutions is challenging. Had a
setback? Be flexible and keep trying! Re-write your resolutions or break your
resolution down into smaller steps. Look
at your setback as a learning process in reaching your goals. Remind yourself why you made the resolution
and what you have to gain by achieving your goal. Make 2013 “your” year –
you are worth it!