The Gazette Lanzarote Jan 2014 | Page 58

Think learn and I t can be a little daunting when your list of New Year’s Resolutions is as long as a child´s list to Santa Claus. In addition to the post-holiday slump, the prospect of not being able to keep your resolutions by February, March or even late January may increase your anxiety. Once the holiday decorations are packed up and stored away, the frustration of an unused gym membership or other reminders of failed resolutions can make these winter months feel hopeless. Indeed, Jan 6th has been named as the “most depressing day of the year” by British researchers. That´s why there´s no hard and fast rule about jumping into resolutions on the 1st. It´s a day when there´s a good chance you´ll be hung over, tired or simply not bothered. As long as your resolution starts fairly early into the New Year, you´ll be fine. 58 | January 2015 | The Gazette change Remember that the New Year isn’t meant to be a catalyst for sweeping character changes. Instead, it´s a time for people to reflect on their past year’s behavior and promise to make positive lifestyle changes. Setting small, attainable goals throughout the year, instead of a singular, overwhelming goal on January 1st can help you reach whatever it is you’re striving for. Remember, it’s not the extent of the change that matters, but rather the fact of recognizing that lifestyle change is important and then working toward it, one step at a time. By keeping your resolutions realistic, there is a greater chance that you will keep them throughout the year, incorporating healthy behavior into your everyday life. Start small Make resolutions that you think you can keep. If, for example, your aim is to exercise more frequently, schedule three or four days a week for jogging or gym instead of seven. If you want to eat more healthily, start by replacing dessert with something else you enjoy, like fruit or yogurt, instead of seeing your diet as a form of punishment. Change one problem at a time Unhealthy behaviour develops over the course of time. As a result replacing bad habits with healthy ones requires time. Don’t get overwhelmed and think that you have to reassess everything in your life. Instead, work toward changing one thing at a time. You´ll very often find that concentrating and solving one thing will fix another problem without your even trying!