As we kick off 2018, many of us will make New Year’s Resolutions, only to break them after a week or two.
A recent poll looked at some of the most common New Year’s Resolutions and, not surprisingly, seven out of the top ten revolve around better health.
Living in a way that supports your best health is undeniably important, but traditional New Year’s Resolutions are notoriously ineffective, so we at Masiello Employment propose a Resolution Solution: rethink and reframe resolutions so they fit into your life. By doing so, they’re more likely to become habit, which means they’re more likely to work. Translation: You can achieve better health in 2018!
Here’s a list of some of the most common New Year’s Resolutions, and our alternative for each:
Old Resolution: Exercise More
Resolution Solution: Move More
For some, exercise is an entirely unpleasant proposition. If that’s how you feel, forget about conventional exercise. Don’t go to the gym. Don’t take a yoga class. Don’t head out for a run. Instead, think about the things you truly enjoy that involve movement (dancing, hiking, cross-country skiing) and incorporate at least one of these activities into your life every day.
Old Resolution: Lose Weight
Resolution Solution: Gain Perspective
When you focus only on the number on the scale, you miss the bigger (and better) picture: how great you feel and how much more you can do when you’re at your ideal weight. So rather than concentrating on the scale, consider all the ways your life is improving as you shed pounds, from increased energy to decreased aches and pains; every day, as you get healthier, check in with how you feel, and celebrate each positive change as it appears—and then look forward to the next one.
Old Resolution: Eat More Healthy
Resolution Solution: Toss the Junk
Healthy food has a bad reputation for being bad-tasting food. That’s not exactly true, but if you don’t like the way something tastes, you won’t eat it—no matter how good it is for you. So instead of resolving to come home from the grocery store with a bag of unappealing-to-you items, start by eliminating the unhealthy things in your refrigerator and kitchen cabinets (you know what they are!). Then think of those so-called healthy foods that you legitimately enjoy (perhaps apples and carrots) and incorporate more of those healthy favorites into your meals.
Old Resolution: Drink Less Alcohol
Resolution Solution: Drink More Mocktails
For many of us, having a drink is something we do socially—and having an occasional drink is fine for most people, but one drink can easily become many drinks and, for some, even one drink is one too many. In rethinking how you drink, find non-alcoholic beverages you enjoy as much as a glass of wine or beer, and choose that option whenever possible; if you don’t want to stand out for not joining in, have one drink and then switch to a soda or water—a glass of seltzer with a wedge of lime and a straw looks exactly like a cocktail, and no one will know the difference. (Serious side note: If you’re worried you have a problem with alcohol, please reach out to family, friends, or your Doctor for help.)
Old Resolution: Stop Smoking
Resolution Solution: Start Not Smoking
It’s disreputably difficult to stop smoking—so don’t stop smoking, start to not smoke. First, think about the kind of person you are, and what will or will not work for you in your quest to become a non-smoker. There are many approaches—wearing a nicotine patch, chewing nicotine gum, going cold turkey, reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke each day for a period of time until you don’t smoke any at all. Do your research to learn about each one and then commit to one or a combination of a few that complement each other. And then change your mindset: Instead of seeing a red STOP sign when you think of smoking, see a green light as you head towards a smoke-free life.
All of us at Masiello Employment wish you a happy (and healthy) 2018! And remember: we can help you find that perfect job any time of the year—our recruiting team is here for a free consultation; just give us a call.