Are you still resolved to make it happen?

I used to think up New Year's resolutions for myself and it was usually some form of health goals. I'd start a new diet or exercise routine.

Research shows the average person gives up somewhere between the last week in January and mid-February. That's about now. Have you started some new goal Jan 1st and are you still doing it?

I rarely made it to mid-February. But not anymore! I've been able to change all that.

You see over the years I have been able to develop some excellent habits so that January 1st is just another day.

Okay well, that's not entirely true. I do still try to cut down on or eliminate sugar in the new year but there are birthdays and reasons to eat cake in January so I don't always succeed with that. (Talk about a bad excuse!)

But I got pretty good at exercising, meditating, eating healthy, and sleeping longer, all year round, which are all excellent habits for lowering stress.

When it comes to creating a healthy behavior or habit, you'll be more successful if you have the following:

• A strong reason to start the new habit/behavior (or give up the bad one).
• Strong willpower to stick to the new behavior for at least 30-60 days.
• A strong support system that will hold you accountable when you feel like you want to give up.

There are a variety of reasons we abandon our resolutions including: lack of a clear plan, setting expectations too high, and underestimating the challenges involved.

Setting achievable and specific goals with a well-defined plan of action is crucial to increase the likelihood of success.

And here is a helpful hint: Once you practice the new behavior for some time, it becomes a habit! Then you don't need willpower anymore. You just do it. And feel good about it.

My exercise program became a habit years ago. Now, even if I don't want to, I still just do it because it's a good habit.

I don't want to ever stop working out because I know I'd have to start again evenutally and I don't want to go through that pain. I ALWAYS feel better when I'm done with my exercise.

This is the reason I've been able to give up drinking and smoking too. If I started again I'd have to quit again and that would be too painful.

Humans have lots of strong reasons to change, but we are very tough on ourselves when we fail. Stop that! We're all doing the best we can with what we've got.

If you've quit something unhealthy or started something healthy this year, it always helps when you have that 3rd element to help you get through the willpower bit. I'm talking about having a strong support system.

The other day I said to Paul that I was craving a chocolate dessert type of thing. I suggested going to Doro (an awesome bakery in my area) to get something decadent.

He reminded me that we were trying to get off the sugar and it wasn't a good idea. He was strong when I was weak. His comment really helped me. Talk to the people who support you when you feel like giving up. Ask for a pep talk.

I immediately agreed with him and then sat with my craving for about another 10 seconds. But once I knew I wasn't going to get the dessert, I realized there was no need to torture myself by thinking about it. And guess what? That craving was gone.

If you need some help in overcoming a bad habit or starting a new good habit, you can always sign up for an hour-long coaching session with me here for $150.

Book a Coaching Session with Maureen

We'll talk about your reason to change, the behavior you want to eliminate or add, how you can set up a good support system and we'll put a plan of action together with appropriate goals you can reach.

Sometimes all you need is to talk it out and be held accountable. I can help you with that. Click the link and book a time to get started.

In the meantime, stay warm, keep working out, and take steps toward your dreams. If you do that, 2024 will be an awesome year to live.