New Year's Wellness Resolutions

We’ve got three more days of 2008 left! Take some time to reflect on this past year. What went well? What was challenging? How did your life change? How did it stay the same?

Based on your reflections, you may want to make some resolutions for the New Year. Millions of New Year’s resolutions made in the United States each year revolve around losing weight and other wellness-related goals…and they frequently get broken by Valentine’s Day.

This year, try making your resolutions realistic. If you’re inclined to resolve to work out at the gym one hour every day of the week and you’re currently getting to the gym twice a week for a half hour, scale that resolution down to a time commitment you can really make. If your goal is around getting more sleep at night, make your resolution specific to HOW you will accomplish that goal (so instead of having the goal of “getting more sleep at night,” make it a goal to “make 9:30pm quiet time for reading in bed so when lights go off at 10pm, I’m relaxed and ready to sleep.”


Wellness resolutions for 2009 need not be focused on physical activity, nutrition and sleep. Any goal that will help you be happier will improve your overall wellness. Resolutions to have more fun through monthly weekend trips with loved ones or to increase connection to your community through volunteering an hour per week with another organization or your church are both rooted in your wellness.

Here’s a worksheet that you can use to help you craft your New Year’s resolutions. Print them out and put them someplace where you’ll see them on a daily basis (like your bedroom mirror, the fridge, or even your car dashboard; girls can put them in their locker or inside a school notebook):


2009 NEW YEAR’S WELLNESS RESOLUTIONS



I, _________________________________, resolve to work towards the three wellness goals listed below during 2009. I have reflected on my goals and they are realistic for me to accomplish this year. I promise not to beat up on myself if I stray from my goals and I commit to pursuing my goals for the whole twelve months of the year.



GOAL ONE:





Why am I making this a goal?



How will I accomplish this goal?



How will I know if I’m on track?



What will success look and feel like?



GOAL TWO:





Why am I making this a goal?



How will I accomplish this goal?



How will I know if I’m on track?



What will success look and feel like?



GOAL THREE:





Why am I making this a goal?



How will I accomplish this goal?



How will I know if I’m on track?



What will success look and feel like?





MAY 2009 BE HOLISTICALLY HEALTHY & JOY-FILLED!


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