It’s that time: With a new year comes the inevitability of setting resolutions, and breaking them within a matter of days or weeks.

Many look at New Years as a blank page, a way to write a new, healthier story for themselves. Each January, you resolve to better yourself in some way – by losing weight, exercising more, quitting bad habits like smoking or eating healthier.

Here are some tips that might help make those resolutions stick.

Be Realistic 

Be realistic about what you’d like to accomplish. Don’t try, for example, to quit smoking and lose weight and eat healthier and… and… and…

Suddenly, you’re so overwhelmed you give up on any hope of accomplishing any of your goals.

Having unrealistic goals sets you up for failure. Set smaller goals, and be specific.

Instead of, “I want to lose weight,” try, “I want to lose 15 pounds by Memorial Day.” Instead of, “I’m cutting out red meat,” try, “I’m only going to eat a burger twice a month.”

By keeping your resolutions realistic, you’ll have a far greater chance of success, and you won’t feel as stressed out.

Have a Support System

Ask for the support you need. Family and friends can help you stay motivated on those difficult days, and they can even join you in your pursuit of a better self. If, for example, you’ve resolved to work out more in the new year, have a friend sign up for some exercise classes with you.

On the days you just don’t feel like exercising, that friend could be the catalyst to get you up and moving (and vice versa).

You could also consider working with a personal trainer to set up an exercise plan that best fits your needs and your life.

Working with a certified personal trainer can help you reach your personal health and fitness goals for the new year.

And even better: You’ll have someone who can help motivate and encourage you every single step of the way. The Fitness Center of Thibodaux Regional offers a variety of personal training options. Call 985-493-4950 to find out more.

Don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you feel like you need it. If you’re trying to quit smoking, know that Thibodaux Regional Medical Center has a smoking cessation program to help you quit smoking for life (call 985-449-4686 for more information).

Asking for help does not mean you are weak – quite the opposite. It means that you know your weaknesses and recognize that you can’t do it alone. Accepting help takes great strength, and it can, in turn, strengthen your resilience.

Celebrate success

If you’ve successfully gone two weeks without smoking, for example, or if you’ve lost those first five pounds, reward yourself in some small way. Give yourself credit for the step forward.

Doing so can help shift the focus away from the end goal, and on the smaller, and equally significant, steps you take along the way. As a result, you’ll likely remain motivated to soldier on and eventually attain your bigger goal.

Work on Whole Health

January is the time for resolving to be healthier, and it’s the perfect time to schedule those annual doctor appointments. After all, you’re working to get healthier, inside and out.

Challenge yourself in 2018. Take the steps you need to take to be a healthier you. Ask for the help you need, celebrate your successes along the way and, if you do slip-up, realize you are human.

Slip-ups are bound to happen but don’t let them lead to abandoned commitments. Big changes often come in small increments. Here’s to a happy, healthy new year!

Chrisy Myhand is director of wellness services for Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. For more information, call 985-493-4950.