What?  Is it really February already?  If you are like many of us, you vowed to make some changes this year. What happened to that New Year’s resolution? If you’ve made some changes, then bravo to you.  But what if they got buried in the other stuff called life-job, family, fun? 

Here is a hint on how to resurrect those goals and start to achieve them:  Discipline: as in restraint and order, not punishment! Where is that elusive discipline? That one word can be key to making those resolutions successful. 

How can you uncover your discipline (you know it’s there!) and apply it to your resolution? Think about an area of your life in which discipline comes a little easier – your job, your kid’s schedule, getting your spouse to help with the household chores. How can you translate that to an area that is more difficult like a healthy life style? Most people know what they need to do to be more fit or eat better, but the goals we set for ourselves are too vague and if the discipline isn’t there, those goals vanish.   

Start with 2 or 3 goals-that’s all the change we humans seem able to manage at once. It won’t seem like much, but you are more likely to feel confident and be successful with 2 or 3 small changes than trying for 5 or 6 and not achieving any of them because it seems so daunting. 

Once you’ve established the goals, then get specific.  Examples are: walking for 20 minutes 3 days this week or eat 2 vegetables, 3 days this week. Now, more details!! What day(s), time of day and for how long will you walk? How will you remember to eat those veggies? Schedule it or write it down as you would any other meeting. 

Questions to ask yourself:

• Who or what can help you to achieve this goal?
• How can you assemble some support?
• What will get in the way? Plan for contingencies:
  • What if the weather is bad?
  • What if your boss schedules a meeting the afternoon you plan to walk?
• How will you measure your success?
• How realistic is this goal?
• What is your confidence level on a scale of 1-10 that you will do this?  

Success fosters confidence and that can be the foundation upon which you build your new habits. 

Create accountability by stating your commitment to a friend or family member – or post it on the fridge. Write down everything you eat for 1 week. Accountability and awareness are two pieces of the discipline puzzle.

What can you be more disciplined about this week? Just 1 change….Sometimes one little spark can ignite a fire! What better investment can you make than contributing to your health? What will the benefits be to your health, your work, your family?  You are worth it!  Imagine how good you will feel when you start achieving just one goal!

Polly Wilson, RN, MS
Certified Wellness Coach