by David B. Glover, MS, CSCS

Happy New Year!

In a 2007 study in the UK, which tracked more than 3,000 people attempting to achieve a range of resolutions, including losing weight, visiting the gym, quitting smoking, and drinking less, although 52% of participants were confident of success at the start, only 12% actually achieved their goal one year later.

How can YOU be one of the 12%?

My resolution for 2011 year is not drink any alcohol for an entire year. Why? I love beer and wine but it I feel guilty the next day and drinking 2 or more drinks disrupts my sleep. Drinking alcohol doesn’t really help me in any way other than that I feel good while I’m doing it. Exercise is a much better drug than alcohol!

Like goal setting, apply S.M.A.R.T. principles for New Year’s resolutions:

Simple: Pick 1 thing to work on. Keep is simple and straightforward. Black and white.

Measurable. For example, “lose 25 pounds by the end of June” vs. “just lose weight” or “take a yoga class at the gym 2x/week” vs. “just workout.”

Achievable: Is your resolution something you have a chance of actually achieving given your constraints, commitments, resources, etc? If not, maybe tone it down a bit. Working out 4x/week may be more realistic than working out every day.

Relevant: Tie directly to the desired outcome.

Time bound: Set a deadline to achieve your resolution. Lost 10 pounds by the end of February. Go to the gym 2x/week for 3 months. A plan without a deadline is a dream.

Two other components I would also add are accountability and support. Make your resolution real by writing it down and remind yourself by posting it somewhere you will see it ever day like your bathroom mirror. Engage family and friends for support. If you’re trying to lose weight, your spouse or partner can help you by not bringing home junk food or by reminding you of healthier options at a restaurant.

At the end of the day, fulfilling your New Year’s resolution is in your hands and mine is my hands.

I’ll check in at the end of the year and let you know how mine went. So far, I’m off to a good start as I began mine a few days early on 12/29.

Live strongly and boldly!

David

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David B. Glover, MS, CSCS 
Author of Full Time and Sub-Nine: Fitting Iron Distance Training into Every Day Life
Blog: davidglover.net

© 2011 David B. Glover