Wellness Resolutions: How to Follow Through and Achieve Your Goals

BLOOMINGTON, MINN. — The New Year is a convenient time to reflect on changes you want to make to live healthier. Do you want to spend more time with your family and friends? Get more physically active? Eat healthier? Quit smoking? Get organized? Get out of debt? Enjoy life more?

According to Jim McDonald, MBA, vice president of administrative services at Northwestern Health Sciences University and a time-management consultant, “New Year’s resolutions are the perfect time and way to change your life for the better.”

McDonald, who has presented seminars on time management for several decades, shares some tips to help you reach your goals:

• Set Realistic Goals.
  Make resolutions that are doable for you. If you want to exercise five times a week, but haven’t done it in the past, set your goal to exercise twice a week.
• Write Down Your Resolution and a Realistic Action Plan.

Try to make your plan as easy as possible for yourself.

• Change for Yourself.
  Look at your resolutions as positive changes that will help you live healthier and happier. Don’t decide to change to please anyone but yourself.
• Find a Realistic Role Model Living Your Goal.
  If they can do it, so can you!
• Anticipate Roadblocks and Rebound From Set-backs.

If things come up that prevent you from sticking to your plan, make alternate plans for situations you cannot avoid. See how you can get back on track as quickly as possible and do better next time.

• Track Your Progress Periodically.
  Try once a week.
• Build a Support Team.
  Get support from your family, friends, and co-workers to encourage you when your resolve weakens. If your resolution involves quitting a serious addiction like smoking, drinking, or an eating disorder, get professional help and join a support group if possible.
• Celebrate Your Successes.
  Reward yourself when you meet your smaller goals, as well as celebrate when you achieve your resolutions.

For additional resources on healthy resolutions, visit http://www.nwhealth.edu/nns. The Web site focuses on natural approaches to health and wellness, and is hosted by Northwestern Health Sciences University.

Editor's note: The Natural News Service is a public information program provided by Northwestern Health Sciences University. If you choose to use this release, please attribute the information accordingly. The University offers a wide array of choices in natural health care education including chiropractic, Oriental medicine, acupuncture, massage therapy, and integrative health and wellness. The University has more than 900 students on a 25-acre campus in Bloomington, Minn.