New Year's Resolution - Take Two!

Okay, so it's almost a month into 2007 and how many of you have already broken your New Years Resolutions? So maybe you had decided to cut down on (or cut out) fast food and junk food. Maybe you had decided to get into shape with a regular exercise program. Maybe you had decided to finally start (or finish) that home improvement project, etc. Or all of the above.

The first couple of days you were chugging along happily eating those carrot sticks, making your do-to lists and getting organized. Maybe you even went out and purchased exercise equipment and a new workout outfit. After all, you were completely motivated - No time to waste, right? Then by the end of the 2nd week of 2007, you started losing momentum.

Maybe you were out one day running errands or had a busy day at work and you were hungry right? You really didn't feel like parking the car, going into a grocery store, finding your new healthier foods, waiting in line, going home, and then preparing your food. No, instead you were so rushed and hungry that you decided THIS ONE TIME to go through a drive through for a quick and easy bite to eat. No cooking. No hassle. Perfect. You didn't even have to get out of the car (so much for the exercise.)

You rationalized by telling yourself that it's okay because after all you have the WHOLE REST OF THE YEAR to get it right. Then a couple of days later the whole scenario played out again. Not too mention that the exercise program you had started the week before just did not quite fit into the schedule this week. Just too much going on. Work, household chores, after-school activities, church activities, you name it. You're just too busy ALL the time.

What's a person to do? Are you supposed to just throw in the towel on your ambitious goals to better your life? Is it all too much to handle? Well, the answer is Yes and No. Yes, because most of us put too much pressure on ourselves. No, because most of what we want to do is very do-able, but just not all at once.

Think about it - Our impulsive, impatient natures are shaped by the fast-paced lives we live. We think that we have to do everything now. All or nothing. Therefore, we make too many resolutions all at one time and as a result, we become overwhelmed and discouraged very quickly. I'm guilty as charged every year with doing the same exact thing (I'm still working on my VERY LARGE LIST of 1999 resolutions.)

Who said that January 1st has to be the time to start all over again and do things better? Really, if we would all just take one thing at a time, one day at a time and make little changes to our daily habits then maybe something will stick. My husband has been telling me for years to spend 15 minutes a day on my goals instead of trying to do everything all at once. I think I'm finally ready to listen to that advice. Replacing a few meals with healthier options, exercising a few minutes everyday and then progressing a little bit at a time until a year from now and...Voila...I'll have new healthier habits and a new outlook on life.

And so will YOU!