Nurse Mary: Resolutions or Disillusions?

by Mary A Drobnak RN, BSN, MSN Ed

It's that time of year when many people look forward to a fresh start in life and resolve to improve something in their life. However, the problem with the start of a new year is that most good intentions are often derailed within a few weeks. Make 2012 the year you make good on your New Year's resolutions.

Bad habits that keep you from reaching a goal or optimal health, such as smoking, drinking or overeating don't have to follow you into the new year. If you don't want these behaviours hanging around for another 12 months, you must prepare yourself psychologically.

Experts agree that no matter how stubborn a habit you've developed or how much you have procrastinated to make a needed change in your life, there are ways to break those negative patterns and keep resolutions. The trick is to keep everything in perspective. Focus on realistic goals with measurable results. This can be achieved by breaking things down into small steps that you can manage. For example, instead of trying to lose 50 pounds, you should focus on losing five pounds at a time. If quitting smoking is the goal, think in week-long increments and feel good about every week you get through. If your goal is too big, you'll feel defeated before you even get started. It is essential in the beginning to create smaller goals that you'll be able to accomplish.

Additionally, stop thinking about it and do it! The key to achieving even your most lofty goals is to get started immediately. Action precedes motivation, not the other way around. People often think that they should wait until they are motivated to start doing something good for themselves. Instead of waiting for inspiration to act on your goals, you need to take action first and inspiration will follow. Your initial action doesn't have to be anything big. Just by putting on your sneakers and hopping on the treadmill for 10 minutes, you will make that energy you are ‘waiting’ for materialise. Throw that pack of cigarettes out and achieve one day without a cigarette! And how about those classes you have been meaning to start? Just do it! 

Once you initiate an action – even the smallest of actions – you pick up momentum and you realize, 'Hey, this isn't so bad,' and it becomes a lot easier to keep moving forward and to stay motivated!

Other ways to succeed say experts: avoid perfectionist thinking (Rome wasn’t built in a day); view setbacks as a lesson for growth (learn that it’s ok to make adjustments as you go and even relapse but recognize it and get back up); don’t make absolute resolutions (be realistic); don’t keep your resolutions to yourself (the more people you tell the greater your support system is to help you keep your direction); give your goals meaning (give up or change something that is important to you, not others); last…. take baby steps (don’t bite off more than you can chew). Bottom line, make yourself small achievable goals for 2012, and you will be more likely to stick to them and see the results you are aiming for throughout the year! Remember nothing in life worth doing is ever easy. Start now! Wishing you a happy, healthy and achievement-driven New Year!

Send Nurse Mary your health questions and concerns at [email protected]

Editor’s Note: Talk would like to congratulate Nurse Mary Drobnak on the completion of her Master’s of Science in Nursing! We look forward to many more columns where she brings her expertise to Health Talk.