Many people set health and wellness resolutions for the new year, but sometimes striving to meet those resolutions can, itself, become a source of stress that isn’t good for your health.
The word “resolution” is about resolve, but looked at another way, it literally spells out the repetition of a solution: re-solution. It's no wonder so many of us end up making (and breaking) the same resolutions over and over again. But that doesn't mean you can't make meaningful changes in the coming year. Experts increasingly agree that most people would do better to use an approach that's more connected to personal EV-olution than RE-solution.
Here are some recommendations:
1. Pick a theme. Not a target. Targets are fixed, but themes can help shape and guide. Choose a word or concept that describes a state-of-being or a quality that you want to cultivate in the coming year. For example, if you've been feeling adrift, perhaps your theme for the year is “seek clarity.” If you are compelled to make a bunch of resolutions about time management, perhaps your theme for the year is "intentionality" or “discerning priorities.” As the year unfolds, keep your theme in mind, and as often as you can, seek to align your time and your actions accordingly. Even partial success here is a net benefit!
2. Add rather than subtract. There are often simple things you can mix into your routine that can improve your health and wellness. For example, the National Cancer Institute recommends increasing your intake of vegetables, fruit and whole grains. So rather than embracing a sense of restriction--such as cutting all the “bad things” things from your diet--try adding an additional serving of vegetables or whole grains to every meal. And when you do, acknowledge that as a win.
This strategy doesn't just apply to nutrition. For example, adding just 20 minutes of sleep each night can positively impact your energy and attention. The results over time may surprise you, and soon you could be operating from a new norm.
3. Reverse engineer your previous resolutions. Reflect on the resolutions you’ve made in the past, including (or especially) the ones you have trouble keeping. Rather than focusing on what they require you to DO (lose weight, read more, drink less), explore what they say about the type of person you'd like to BE. This may help clarify your deeper motivations and intentions. It can also help you find your theme for the coming year.
What's the takeaway here? Rather than the traditional concept of resolutions, seek instead to determine the environment or qualities you'd like for yourself, and then let that serve as a guiding influence as you navigate the year ahead. This "work in progress" approach is less punitive, and it also more closely models the way people achieve lasting change.
- PJY