2008 Woodie Awards
Re-energize your Resolutions
Palmer's Progress
Scott Palmer
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How's that New Year's resolution treating you? If you're like me, it didn't last a week. Does that mean we're all sunk, doomed to repeat the mistakes of previous years? Why no, it doesn't. Just because things didn't start well doesn't mean they can't finish well. Here are a few tips on how to get back on the proverbial horse.
Focus on the why.
There was a reason that you wanted to lose weight or be more organized or run a marathon in the first place. If you've lost your way, it helps to get back in touch with that primordial desire. That desire is what made you want to fight inertia in the first place. Starting anything isn't easy, so if you at least made a start, then there must have been a darn good reason.
Go back to basics.
There's no way to short-circuit the process, you just have to begin at the beginning. If you made a resolution to exercise, then you need to make yourself go to the gym or get out there and walk around. There is no magic here, and it won't get any easier the longer you wait. Get up and go. Now. Do you remember somebody telling you that half of life is showing up? They were wrong. Most of life is showing up, the rest is easy.
Know that it will get easier.
The corollary to going back to basics is that even the hard stuff does eventually get easier. Going to the gym for the first time is always the hardest. The next week, it gets a little better. If you're going on a diet, the hardest part is the first two weeks. That's because you're expending a lot of mental energy to change your old habits. No, it's not willpower, it's thinking. When you have to think about every little bite you take during a day, that's exhausting. But, over time you'll notice that it gets easier.
Chip away the stone.
Every little bit counts. You can make some headway every day with even a small amount of effort. Over time, you will develop new habits that will reinforce your new, healthier choices. Soon, you'll be on cruise control.
By following these simple (though, not easy) steps, you can get back on track for this year and make the changes you wish to see in your life.
Palmer, 3L and opinion editor for The UB Post, can be reached at scott.palmer@ubalt.edu.
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