Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions

Tuesday, December 30, 2003

ROCHESTER, Minn. — How can you keep those resolutions for a healthier new year? Behavior change experts have developed guidelines that you can use to help transform your New Year's resolutions into long-term lifestyle changes. The January issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource outlines some strategies:

Keep records: For at least three days, keep a detailed record of situations, moods or triggers that lead to unhealthy behaviors. If overeating is your concern, do you indulge when you are bored, frustrated or stressed? Also record healthy behaviors such as walking, gardening or shoveling snow.

Analyze the records: Look for patterns and opportunities. For example, is wine your remedy for stress? Try to identify relaxing behaviors to replace alcohol.

Take little steps: Set goals that are specific, measurable, attainable and flexible. Aim for small steps that get you closer to your ultimate goal.

Reward yourself: Give yourself rewards such as seeing a movie or paying yourself money each time you reach a health goal.

Long-term change: Every few months, review your habits, assess your progress and begin a new record. List possible solutions to use with behavior problems. Write down the benefits of change. Ask for support from friends and family.

Adopting a new, healthy lifestyle is challenging and it takes work. But with small changes, you can succeed.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester
Carol Lammers
507-284-5005 (days)
507-284-2511(evenings)
email: newsbureau@mayo.edu

Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville
Erik Kaldor
904-953-2300

Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale
Anne Tewksbury
480-301-4368

Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 800-876-8633, extension 9PK1.

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