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ARE YOU BUYING THIS? By
Robbie Dingeman
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A recent telephone survey of 1,000 Americans found that nearly 70 percent of us made a New Year's resolution last year but only about 25 percent felt they succeeded in keeping one.
With the holidays behind us and the new year officially in business, there are some ways to help us all be more successful about such positive changes — and not be making the same resolution again at the same time next year.
Resolutions tend to be more practical than exotic for most of us. The lists usually include perennial favorites: saving more money, losing weight, eating healthier, exercising more, reducing stress, spending more time with family.
And experts say it's smart to pick reasonable and reachable goals.
Employee health benefits company Cigna talked to 1,000 adults about resolutions and found the most common resolutions are: lose weight (28 percent), exercise more (12 percent) and quit smoking (11 percent).
Researchers found that those who succeeded had some simple strategies that helped:
The Cigna poll found younger adults — ages 18 to 24 — belong to the group most likely to make New Year's resolutions than other ages. Some 79 percent of them said they made a resolution last year.
But folks in every age group can succeed. Businesses and health plans are helping with free quit-smoking clinics, stress reduction classes and discounts for such programs as Weight Watchers.
They notice that healthier workers call in sick less and are more productive.
Experts also say successful resolution-keepers often learn to break down the bigger goal into more manageable pieces.
For example, you might strive to lose 10 pounds in six months knowing you can reach that goal even with a setback or two. But it's probably unrealistic to think you can drop 25 pounds by next month.
If you want to build more exercise into your schedule, pick something you like, and maybe even enlist a friend or relative to join you.
Then decide to walk or run or bike three times a week. Or stay indoors and exercise to a DVD or tape.
Some of us find pockets of time in the early morning. You may sacrifice some sleep but find you have more energy. Some people easily schedule at lunch or right after work or after dinner but another key can be finding the tricks that work for you.
Setting smaller goals can boost your confidence and enable you to eventually reach bigger goals. Experts remind us to celebrate the small victories in ways that don't sabotage the long-term goals.
Those rewards can run the gamut from treats like a massage, a pedicure or a new CD or book.
Even the budget-minded can find treats. A walk on the beach can be a pleasant reward that doesn't cost anything but the time. Hawai'i public libraries charge just $1 a week to borrow DVDs or CDs and offer a wide selection. Throw a bag of popcorn (94 percent fat-free, of course) in the microwave and you've got an at-home movie night.
Conspire with friends and relatives. You know your friend who makes the fabulous salad? Ask her, then offer to do your awesome salmon dish. Pretty soon you've got a full meal that everyone can enjoy. It's even reasonably health and less stressful than any one person hosting everything.
Veteran Hawai'i news anchor Joe Moore is known for his blunt observations of daily life. For years, he kept above his desk at KHON "the secret" to losing weight.
He summed it up on a tiny piece of paper that said "Eat less. Exercise more. Do it forever." Simple.
If you've got other tips for picking and keeping resolutions, please let us know.
Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.
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