Have you ever made a resolution, perhaps to eat better, and the next thing you know you’re 5 fists deep in a bag of cookies made of ingredients you can hardly pronounce? I know I can’t be the only one.
What people love to do is wait for all of their shortcomings to miraculously improve on the start of the new year. “Now that my muffin top is thicker than my skull, I’ll start to eat right, exercise 5 times a week, stop drinking alcohol and caffeine, and take vitamins once the new year begins…” and so forth. This is the equivalent of signing up for a marathon, and preparing by watching the Olympics on television, while petting one of 5 cats and eating ranch Doritos.
I’ve made a few crazy resolutions that I’ve managed to uphold, but more often than not, those resolutions are not sustainable. It’s great to want to be healthier or improve your being in one way or another, but to make it last, it’s helpful to have a SMART goal.
Specific -Clear concise goal
Measurable -The ability to track your progress
Attainable – Set challenging yet achievable goals
Relevant – Goals relevant to your life plan
Time based – Goal has a target finish time attached
My plan for the new year is to get off of my medication. For those who don’t know, I take medication for depression and anxiety, and have for years. I’m ready to use other modes of coping and healing, but I’m not about to go cold turkey and cross my fingers. I’m not petting animals and eating chips to prepare. I’m setting smart goals and working my way towards that goal.
I will begin by creating better gut health. It has been scientifically proven that your gut health is directly correlated with your brain health. I have smart goals set, so that in a few weeks time, my gut health will improve and I can begin to decrease my dosage. After that, I will experiment with essential oils, and other ways to calm my body and mind as I continue to decrease.
A New Year resolution is not a sprint. It’s a marathon, and you can cross the finish line with a smart goal and a smile. What’s yours?
Brooke Lyn Landon 