HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
New You, New Success!
ARTICLE JAMIE AMES
THE KEY TO SETTING SUCCESSFUL GOALS 1. Eat Better THE NEW YEAR FILLS US WITH ENERGY TO RISE TO NEW CHALLENGES. We feel inspired to achieve new goals. We resolve to be better. But a few weeks go by, and slowly we drift from our targets. Here are some tried-and-true tips for staying on track with New Year’s resolutions once and for all. + IMAGINE. Start with your target. Figure out exactly what you want looks like. Journaling this is especially helpful. + PLAN. Once you have a picture of your target in mind, choose two to three small tasks you can accomplish that will help you get closer to it. For example, if your resolution is to eat
D: Blender Girl Smoothies app will match your mood to any smoothie. iOS, free. A: Cookbook: Skinnytaste One and Done by Gina Homolka, $18, Amazon.com, or The MeatEater Fish and Game Cookbook by Steven Rinella, $35, Amazon.com. L: Cooking Classes at Sur La Table. Located at The Village at Meridian. This month is Tuscan Cast Iron Cooking. Learn about cooking without a toxic nonstick pan. Take the cast iron skillet home. $79 per seat. March 23, 1:00-3:00
healthier, choose something specific like eating five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. “Eat more fruit” is not specific enough. Figure out how much, how many, when, where and how you will do it, and make sure your tasks are attainable. Nobody is perfect all the time. Saying, “I am going to eat five servings of fruit every single day for three months” is a specific, worthy goal to aspire to, but it’s far more achievable to say, “I am going to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables at least five days a week” since nobody is perfect and unforeseen circumstances can arise. Then write down the tasks you have chosen. + TRACK. After you choose and record your tasks, all that is left is to work the plan every single day and track it. Get a
2. Exercise More D: MyFitnessPal app, iOS and Android, free. Scott Herman or Jenny Ford fitness channels on YouTube YouTube.com/ user/ScottHermanFitness or YouTube. com/user/JennyFordFitness A: Exercise Log Book: Workout Journal Tracker, $5.99, Amazon.com. L: Join a gym or running club. Fleet Feet Running Club welcomes all ability levels and offers two weeks of free training when you join. FleetFeetMeridian.com/ fleet-feet-running-club
chart, planner page or digital tracker, and mark off every day that you complete all of your tasks. Your only job is to work the plan without breaking the chain. If you do break it, shake it off and start a new chain.* + EVALUATE AND TWEAK. Set a time limit such as one month for your action plan. At the end of that time, reevaluate how you are progressing toward your target. Change your tasks as necessary and then work the new plan for another month. + It is important that your action plan is achievable. If your target is losing 40-plus pounds, focus on the first 2 pounds and choose tasks that will get you there. Don’t worry about the 40 right now because that will not allow you to experi-
3. Spend Less/Save More D: Neat app: Take pictures of receipts anywhere and track spending, iOS and Android, free. Or- Marcus: By Goldman Sachs (Online Savings Account) no monthly fee, 2.05% APY with $1 minimum balance. A: Tooarts Owl-Shaped Metal Coin Bank Box, $13.99, Amazon.com. L: Personal Finance Class, hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, open to the public. 2 hrs 1x week for 12 weeks. Ongoing, free.
ence quick success. This is paramount! When we succeed at accomplishing something, we get a little boost. That boost is the key so many people miss when making resolutions.
Here are last year’s top resolutions and some digital (D:), analog (A:) and local (L:) resources to help you work your plan.
People think being motivated leads to success but actually,
*For those in recovery from addiction, keeping the chain of success going is
the opposite is true. Motivation is the outcome when we
even more crucial. According to Nathan Mart—Life Change program director
succeed; success is the springboard to your goal. The result
at the Eugene, Oregon Mission—the most influential materials for recovering
is motivation to continue! So create an action plan you can
addicts are things related to gratitude and personal journaling. He says grat-
succeed at and then make your dreams a reality.
itude journals “are good for reminding ourselves of what we have and being
+ REPEAT. Plan, succeed, track, evaluate, tweak. Work
grateful instead of constantly wishing things were better or that we had 'things,'
your plan. Build chains of success. Gain motivation. Repeat,
which addicts in recovery can fall into. This thinking can lead to relapse.”
repeat and hit the target!
Nathan believes there is truth in the maxim “a grateful addict never relapses."
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Meridian Lifestyle | March 2019