by Dr. Michele Rutledge

2017 is just around the corner;  soon we will be putting the wrong date on things, then scrambling to turn a 6 into a 7 on our checks and all of our correspondence.  Some years are easier than others; a 5 looks like a 6 with relatively little tweaking, but this year we’re out of luck.  The new year also brings with it another annual tradition: New Year’s resolutions.

New Year’s resolutions were first made 4,000 years ago by the ancient Babylonians, who made promises to pay debts and return what they had borrowed.  (I think some Babylonians may still be waiting.) Early Christians focused on making amends for sins and resolving to do better in the coming year. John Wesley created a Covenant Renewal Service to be celebrated at the new year as an alternative to the 1740s equivalent of New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.  Nowadays we in the western hemisphere focus on self-improvement, health, and wellness at New Year’s, and if you’re like 45% of Americans, you’re eyeing some of these possibilities for yourself.

There is benefit in setting a resolution for the new year, both in the choosing and the execution of your plan.  But how to choose something that might work?  And how to give your plan the best chances of success?  Here are some suggestions:

• Choose something manageable.  If you want to improve your diet, start by resolving to get an extra serving of fruit or vegetables in every day.  If you’re trying to exercise more, start by resolving to park at the end of the lot and walk in to the store, or take the stairs instead of the elevator.  If you’re trying to stop doing something, keep track of how often you do it (putting marbles or beans in a cup or jar every time you do it is one way) and see if you can drop the number every week.  Even small successes make a difference.

• Set a date for your goal, and advance your goal if (when!) you succeed. If you make it two weeks with extra veggies every day, try increasing your whole grain intake next, or reduce the amount of saturated fat you eat.  If you have conquered your usual staircases after 2 weeks without an elevator, add a flight to the top of your usual run and then go back down to your floor- or go up faster or, if you are able, take 2 steps at a time.  Increase when you can!

• Join friends or family in your efforts. Exercising at the gym is easier when you are meeting someone there- you are accountable.  If your friends are quitting smoking too, you can all not smoke together, removing some of the pressure to smoke.  If you are all eating healthier, you’ll bring a veggie tray to work for sharing instead of brownies.

• If you do want to try quitting smoking and haven’t checked with your doctor, we’d recommend a visit.  There is a lot we can do to help support you and increase your chances of success.  You can also check out com for free, genuinely supportive options and information.

• Consider other people as your resolutions! Call your parents more. Volunteer. Get involved in your community in new and deeper ways.

Remember, even if you don’t succeed with your first attempt, if it’s a goal that means something to you, keep trying. That’s part of who we are as human beings.  Our determination to keep trying even when things are hard is astonishing in its depth and power, and it’s what makes us stronger in the long run.  It’s how we make our world a better place, by bettering ourselves, our community, and our world- one resolution at a time.