Article # 167. How to have Succesful New Year resolution

WISH YOU HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013!

Hi Dear Friends,

I wish you all a year of health, wealth, happiness luck warmth. I wish you the best of everything…That you so well deserve.

Thanks for taking a moment to check out this New Year message! I am sharing this as I experienced successful resolution in my past. I thought to give few tips on how to have a successful New Year resolution as below. Spend your 5 min’s of valuable time to read this and share to your friends and families.

My success resolution testimony

New Year is the day where many people all over the world make the day as customary to make resolution; a promise in the New Year we will change for something better. Common resolutions are weight loss, regular exercise, smoke cessation, quitting alcohol, better money management, debt reduction and spending more time with family.

Even though so many of us make a resolution, it seems that a month later very few of us will still be on track. This is apparent by how many people join the gym in January and but have stopped coming by March. For successful resolution set a goal, decide how to reach it, track progress, be focused, keep the consistency in setting goals and once reached, enjoy it.

Set a Goal

Set a goal that is SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic & Time bound. Instead of a resolution of “losing weight” set a smart goal to lose 22 pounds (10 Kg) in 6 months by going to gym 5 to 6 days a week for at least 30 minutes to 45 minutes daily and by following healthy diet. A smart goal of “eating better” is to consume high in fiber foods and eliminating high cholesterol foods in your daily diet and drinking plenty of water in regular intervals. (Check my Diet chart specially posted for New Year 2013)

The reason so many resolutions fail is that people set unrealistic goals and expectations. A goal should be slightly out of reach of what you can realistically achieve. For example if you smoke a cigarette per hour and know you can go for an hour and half without one, set a goal of smoking every 3 hours instead and every week increase the time in between each till you no longer crave cigarette. (But focus to quit both smoking & Drinking – Both are killing you daily) Or if you can easily set aside Rupees 3000/- then set a goal of saving Rupees 5000/- a month instead. The goal should be challenging not so much to frustrate you.

Track Progress

Now that you know how to set a successful resolution, you need to track how you are doing. When you break your resolution in small steps you can easily track progress during the time frame. For the 22 pounds weight loss, break it down to a loss of 1 pound a week to easily measure progress. If the goals are being met reward yourself, and if not analyze what caused the derail to avoid in the future. Recognize that you might fall short, vow to do better and attempt again. Get back on track as soon as possible without dwelling on it for too long. When you reward yourself make sure the reward agrees with resolution in the first place. If the resolution was to lose weight, reward yourself with new shirt, jeans, bike or books but not food.

Rewire the Brain

Brain scientist Antonio Domasio and psychotherapist Stephen Hayes have discovered, though the MRIs, that habits are created by thinking patterns that create neural pathways and memories. Your response to a certain behavior will be based on these neural pathways, therefore, when you respond differently you are wiring the brain with a new behavior. To make it easier to form a routine, repeat it at same time every day until you don’t have to think about it anymore.  Once you have reached your resolution, you have successfully changed how you think.

Resolution Tips

To make sure that this year 2013 you have a successful resolution instead of a wish, have a work plan with deadlines. Focus on resolution rather than several, break your resolution in small steps and enlist the help of your family members or friends for support. Knowing you are accountable will keep you motivated. Stay on track even if you miss few days and celebrate success between milestones.

I once again wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR! Have a Blast and fun with your friends and families!

Yours Always!

Guru Shankar!