How to keep on Track this New Year...

rainman3k

I copied this from the face book page of Peter Nielsen, host of Peter's Principles. He has provided a great deal of support to me in my journey and hopefully this information will help you as you set goals for the new year!

How to keep on Track this New Year......
by Peter N Nielsen on Saturday, January 1, 2011 at 3:34pm

The new year is a time to reflect on our lives, to embrace the opportunity for change a new year brings. Millions of Americans will make New Year resolutions, if you’re one of them, try these helpful pointers to help reach your goal!

1)Make realistic goals. Realistic goals can help you stay on track and reach your target. Weight control experts use the term ‘false-hope syndrome’ for unrealistic expectations about how long it will take to lose extra weight. Planning realistic goals can be applied to all situations, set a target that is attainable, reaching that will spur you on to greater heights

2)Devise a plan. Be specific. Whether you’re going to be counting calories, making more time to spend with your family or quitting smoking — give yourself a plan. How you will deal with the urge to skip a workout, have potato chips instead of celery, or have just one more cigarette? This can be as simple as breathing deeply while you count to ten, calling a friend, or having a list on-hand to remind you of the positive effects of sticking to your plan.

3)Create a “pro” and “con” list. Writing and seeing a list of of the positive effects of keeping your resolution and the negative effects of continuing as you are on paper strengthens your resolution. Keep the list with you to help you through the rough periods.

4)Practice mindfulfulness. Alan Marlatt, director of the Addictive Behaviors Research Center at the University of Washington, offers a quote from author and Holocaust survivor, Victor Frankl. “Between stimulus and response, there’s a space, and in that space is our power to choose our response, and in our response lies our growth and freedom.” Recognizing the triggers to actions you want to stop gives you the choice to respond positively.

5)Keep track of your progress. Remember, your larger goal is at the end of a road of small successes. Breaking a large goal into smaller segments or timeframes will help guide you, give you a ‘checking mechanism’ and keep you motivated. Break a weight-loss regimen into 5 pound segments, keep a work-out diary for your fitness regimen or a phone log for those old friends and family members you reach out to.

6)Treat yourself to something special. Go out to a movie or sports event, have lunch with a friend … celebrate your success by treating yourself to something you enjoy that does not contradict your resolution!

7)Be forgiving. Relapse is a common part of changing behavior. If you have an occasional slip, learn from it and keep going. Make the best of each day, and take each day as it comes. It takes about 21 days for a new activity to become a habit, and about 6 months for it to become part of your personality. With a little patience, new habits will become second-nature in no time.

Good luck on your resolutions! Wishing you a Healthy, Blessed and Happy New Year!


http://www.facebook.com/notes/peter-n-nielsen/how-to-keep-on-track-this-new-year/172546682784436

ProudMomoftwo

Great !!

Thanks for sharing this.

Amayrial

awesome~ I'm going to print this up and post it at my desk at work, so I can review it and remind myself often


Thanks!