Vicki Anderson

We all make resolutions for the new year, whether it be to stop something or to start something.  We are excited about it for a little while and then life happens and we go back to what is comfortable. After all, it takes effort to act differently. We have to think about it.

If it means taking time to do something, we have to make time. Many years ago in a time management class I learned that there is always enough time to do what you really want to do. It’s just a matter of making it a priority. Rearrange so that the things that are truly important take precedence over the things that you do but don’t care about.

If it means stop doing something, we have to rearrange our time to fill it with something different. Again, this takes effort, but it is a matter of priority. Which behavior is a priority for you and why? I heard someone who had lost a lot of weight say that she finally had to do it for herself, not her children, her family, or her doctor. But, isn’t that the truth for any resolution we make? Unless we see a benefit for ourselves, we will never stay with it.

I am really bad about starting an exercise program for about 3-5 days and then I stop. Then something happens and I decide to start again. I guess I just haven’t ever seen the benefit to keep going because it takes so long to see the difference. I got a Wii Fit for Christmas and it has a coach and keeps track of my progress. When I miss a day, it chastises me with, “I guess you were too busy to work out with me yesterday.” I think having something to measure my progress is important because then I can tell if what I am doing makes a difference–and it doesn’t hurt if it’s fun.  We’ll see in another few weeks if it sticks.