January 17th is Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day. Whether or not you choose to participate in this day probably depends on how you’re faring with your resolutions. Sticking with healthy New Year’s resolutions can be challenging, but don’t give up! Your health is important enough to stick with your healthy goals.
How long does it take to form a habit?
It’s a popular myth that it takes 21 days to form a habit. While it would be great if forming healthy habits were as simple as persevering for three straight weeks, this isn’t always the case. Everyone is different, and it takes some people longer to form habits than others. Some say that it takes 66 days rather than 21, while others say that it can take a full year of dedication to form a new habit. The truth is that there’s no magic number of days to aim for. Forming healthy habits takes time and effort, but it’s worth it in the long run.
Stick with your New Year’s resolutions!
The idea behind resolutions is that you stick with them until they become healthy habits. Or maybe you’re trying to break bad habits. Whether you’re trying to add new healthy habits or replace bad ones, it takes persistence and intention. Here are a few things that can help you turn your resolutions into habits.
Work towards establishing healthy habits rather than accomplishing one-time goals.
Wellness is an ongoing process. While it’s OK to set specific goals for your health, focus on establishing healthy habits rather than race to the finish line on a one-off goal. Healthy habits build the foundation for wellness.
Set manageable, attainable goals.
Make a healthy diet and exercise a regular part of your daily routine rather than trying to lose 100 pounds in a year. If you don’t normally exercise, strive for 30 minutes of physical activity instead of running 5 miles every day.
Make your health a priority.
Prioritizing your health makes it easier to stick with healthy habits. The earlier that you start making healthy life decisions and focusing on your health, the better.
Make plans that work towards your healthy habits.
Life is full of unexpected occurrences. Things come up, and people get busy. One day you swing through the drive through because of a hectic and busy day, and before you know it, you’ve fallen back into bad habits. Try to plan in advance as much as possible, so that you can continue to reinforce healthy habits.
Is striving for good health and wellness one of your New Year’s resolutions? Your primary care physician is there to help you stay on the right path towards health and wellness. Get in the habit of regular doctor visits, and schedule an appointment with your primary healthcare provider today!
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