Everyone knows that “New Year’s Resolutions” are notoriously ill-fated. One reason for this is that they feed in to cycles of over-indulgence and procrastination – “I can have extra cookies this holiday season because come the New Year I’m going to start a new crash diet”. Or “I’ll have another cigarette because there are only a few more days until I have to quit smoking.” If you want to make a lasting change in your life, the process doesn’t start with making excuses and prolonging bad habits. It involves a very serious decision and a lot of willpower to change your life for the sake of greater reward.
Another reason New Year’s Resolutions fail is that they typically attempt to achieve an unrealistic or unreasonable goal in one fell swoop. For instance, people might say that this year they’re going to start working out every single day and lose 50 pounds, or start a strict new diet. Making these huge lifestyle changes spontaneously and without significant planning is not the best way to set yourself up for success – you need to dedicate time to research and plan how to achieve your goals, and take advice from people who have gone through the same process.
But the single most important thing you can do to change your life is to grit your teeth, make up your mind, and start NOW! Instead of a New Year’s Resolution, we want to promote a Now-Year’s Resolution. Consider the reason you want to make the change. Visualize the new, better life you could have if you take the necessary steps to accomplish it. Deeply understand that change is hard, and the steps you have to take may very well be difficult. Acknowledge that you might want to quit at some point. Accept that you may have setbacks, but they do not undo your progress. Forgive yourself, love yourself, and get back on the horse. But most importantly, remember that the best time to start was yesterday, and the next-best-time to start is now!
Start your new life today by booking a free Brain Health Consultation at Kaplan Brain & Body. A consultation will give you valuable insights into which parts of your brain need exercise, or ways you can change your diet to improve your health. Email us at info@kaplanbrainandbody.com or call our office at 201-261-2150 to book your appointment today. You can always visit our website at www.kaplandc.com for interesting information and promotions.