By Guest Blogger Tracy Huneycutt
I love the idea of making New Years resolutions. I gain a sense of renewal every January when I write down the goals I wish to achieve in the year ahead.
The challenge is that I, like many people, have the best intentions of making sweeping changes in my life, only to fall short. Momentum builds for the first few weeks of the new year, then fizzles out when the stress and realities of life catch up.
In an article published by The Ohio State University: Fisher College of Business, “researchers suggest that only 9% of Americans who make New Years resolutions complete them. Research goes on to show that 23% of people quit their resolutions by the end of the first week, and 43% quit by the end of January.”
One of the main factors of our inability to see resolutions through is we often set expectations that are too abstract or open-ended. As an example, if we aim to lose 40 pounds in the year ahead but only lose three pounds in January, we might get disheartened and halt our efforts. With our fixation on the number “40,” we may fail to recognize that losing three pounds a month is healthy and sustainable.
Whereas, if we set a goal of losing two to four pounds each month, we might be less likely to get discouraged with our progress. Setting goals in smaller increments tends to lead to more long-term success. With this insight in mind, I am making a list of realistic and attainable resolutions for 2024.
Many years ago, I set a goal of running a 5K, despite the fact that I was not a runner. After several months of practice, I eventually increased my endurance to begin jogging. Even though I could jog at a faster pace than my previous walking speed, I felt slow compared to others. When I participated in practice runs, I always remained towards the back of the group. Feeling defeated, I eventually stopped jogging altogether. I am shifting my mindset this coming year by creating a goal of simply moving for 30 minutes every day, whether lifting hand-held weights, participating in stretching and flexibility exercises, walking on my treadmill, or taking the dog on a walk as a family when the weather permits. This will be beneficial for my cardiovascular health, my emotional and mental health, and (something I must think about now that I’m in my mid-forties,) for osteoporosis prevention.
Many of us strive to adopt healthier eating habits at the start of a new year. I can attest from previous failed experiences that having an informed, realistic, and concrete plan in place is essential for success. Additionally, setting a healthy objective without a firm weight loss marker in mind is beneficial, as we may neglect milestones worthy of celebration if we fall short of our goal. Because every woman is different, there is no one-size-fits-all health and wellness journey. I finally achieved progress when I partnered with my doctor several years ago and adopted intermittent fasting as a lifestyle. (I cannot recommend this lifestyle change to others without consulting with one’s physician first.) Now that I have entered perimenopause, I have been researching wellness from a hormonal standpoint. Instead of focusing on the scale, I am modifying my goals towards healthy nourishment. Focusing my eating efforts on natural foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein while limiting added sugars and processed foods will usher in health benefits, without the stress of worrying about the number on the scale.
I have been unsuccessful in cleaning and organizing our basement for the past decade. While half of our basement houses Christmas decorations, sporting equipment, luggage, and seasonal items, regrettably, the other half is full of unused clutter. My previous decluttering goals have been too broad of a stroke to sensibly accomplish. For 2024, I am setting a goal of spending four hours a month for the first several months of the year in our basement, going through one section of clutter at a time. I am going to create a “keep” pile, a “yard sale” pile, and a “trash” pile. I plan to invest in some durable storage totes to help organize the important items we wish to keep. Instead of retaining what is not sold at our future yard sale, we will be donating the unsold items. And while many may argue that basement clutter is “out of sight, out of mind,” scientific research shows that knowing an area of our home is disorganized can have a negative, cumulative effect on our brains.
As my child grows and matures, every year of motherhood brings on a new set of challenges. As a child enters their preteens years, parents must achieve a delicate balance of enforcing rules, boundaries, and expectations while allowing their child the freedom to blossom into the person they are becoming. It’s easy to become frustrated or annoyed when parenthood does not go as planned. This coming year, I am committed to guide, direct, and respond to my child just as he is, in all his uniqueness. Minor setbacks do not mean one is a bad parent; we will get through this time together with consistency and love. Some days, all it feels like I do is fuss at my child. I want to be intentional in carving out time every day to do something fun together. Chores or homework may need to be completed, but taking time to throw a football or to be silly together may be a game-changer in how our day flows.
As we anticipate the promises that 2024 will bring, I hope that you will reach your goals this year, whatever they may be. Wishing you many blessings in the months ahead – Happy New Year!
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