ISO - January 2010 e-Newsletter
The whole idea behind New Year’s resolutions seems a great one: to make positive changes in one’s life that we weren’t able or didn’t care enough to be concerned with last year (or let’s face it, were too busy to remember). We all want to leave our bad habits and traits behind us and the idea of solving all the problems in our lives once the clock hits midnight on December 31 is pretty alluring.
Now that it’s nearly February, how many of you have remembered your resolutions and how many have dropped them in the not-so-distant past like so many 7 AM calculus courses?
According to the site usa.gov, the most popular New Year’s resolutions in the US include drinking less alcohol, smoking less and getting fit (generally being healthier), reducing stress and getting a better education or saving money. For students, all or some of these resolutions may seem familiar and may be especially important for improving lifestyle choices and health. Maybe even more important would be keeping the New Year’s resolutions past February. Often times we all make unreasonable resolutions; the important thing to remember is that every change for the better is a process and nothing happens overnight (accept for the general things like newspaper deliveries and late night television).
Studies have shown that the expectations of achieving unrealistic resolutions—and then inevitably not performing as well as we would like—create negative self images which just lead to further self-destructing habits. Let’s admit it, a lot of us have been on a diet that failed because of just one cupcake.
The best method? One step at a time. Don’t be hard on yourself, but don’t be too lenient either. Decide what changes you’d like to make in your life and prioritize. What is the most important change you’d like to see in your life? If you want to sleep better and be more rested, go to bed one hour earlier each night until you achieve the sleep cycle you think is best. If you want to eat more healthfully, don’t go from pizza to all wheatgrass, all the time—have an apple instead of a candy bar and make the transition easier for yourself (and those around you that might bear the brunt of all that sugar withdrawal). Prioritizing and taking small actions will slowly (but surely) lead you to a regular habit that reminds you of why your changes are for the better.
ISO wishes you a Happy New Year and all the best intentions for keeping yours (and our) resolutions for a healthier and happier 2010!
- http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/New_Years_Resolutions.shtml
- http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-prime/201001/life-new-years-resolutions-why-they-dont-stick