 The
New Year’s resolution that I felt so strongly about three months
ago—to get more exercise—is already fading. I’m
starting to make excuses to myself. Why is this so hard?
—W. P., San Diego
 Old
habits are difficult to break, especially when the change we want
to make requires energy and commitment. M. J. Ryan, in her book
This Year I Will, offers some ideas to help keep you motivated:
Schedule the New Activity. Make time for it on your
day planner and treat it as you would any other appointment.
Anticipate
Your Excuses. What will you tell yourself: I have
no time? I’ve lost interest? Write down your excuses and create
strategies for how you will deal with them, especially during an
awkward phase when you’re struggling to keep going.
Give Yourself a Deadline. Most of us are “pressure
prompted.” That is, we take in information for as long as
possible before we’re forced into action by an external deadline.
Use this human trait to your advantage. Give yourself a motivating
deadline: a reunion, wedding, vacation, etc.
Focus
on Your Gains—not on how much you have left
to do. Scientists call this the horizon effect: “I’ve
done twice as much as a week ago!” When the Dalai Lama was
asked to describe in one word the secret to living a healthy life,
his answer was: “Routines.”
Find
a Partner. It’s easier to take a brisk walk
after dinner if you’re doing it with a family member or friend.
Have a backup plan for times when you can’t make it.
Be Kind to Yourself. We’re only human and growth
is a challenge. Try again—with greater wisdom for having faltered.
|
