Here I go again, another year with another list of New Year’s resolutions.
I don’t know why I go through this annual exercise. On one hand there’s plenty of things I need to improve on but, on the other hand, I usually end up failing miserably in the quest to better my life.
I’m not a complete failure, at least in the beginning. For the first month or so I ‘m pretty good at sticking to the same old resolutions, eating better and exercising more. That isn’t too hard because by January first I can’t eat another bite of holiday cookies (macadamia nuts and apricots are my favorite) or the variety of pies and pound cakes that guests bring. So, I look forward to eating much better and shedding a few of those unwanted pounds.
A step up in exercise this month has been more challenging with the extreme cold and icy roads limiting my outdoor walks, but I’ve managed to get on my exercise bicycle most days. I try to temper the monotony of riding a stationary bike for 30-40 minutes, which can drive one nuts in the middle of winter, by watching SportsCenter or the local news. The other day I really lucked out and caught the tail end of the movie, “Rocky.” That really made time fly!
Despite the good start, I have this nagging feeling that it’s just a matter of time before I’m watching an entire “Rocky” series or some morning television show on the couch instead of in the saddle. To make matters worse, once I’m done exercising, I know that lunch is just around the corner and a bag of frozen holiday cookies is always waiting in the freezer downstairs.
Unfortunately, there is no strength in numbers. Most of us lack the discipline and willpower to continue with goals that seem so reachable when we start out. The numbers back it up.
A recent survey of 1,000 adults revealed that 50 percent of respondents said it took only 12 weeks before they crashed and burned trying to stick to their New Year’s resolutions. Only 15 percent held true past six months and just one percent held the course for the entire year. Most of the resolutions are the same—better diet, more exercise and saving more money—and the reasons for failure are also similar.
The main reason, according to experts, is that the goals people set are unrealistic because they have no plan. If you want to lose 15 pounds, what’s the plan? If you want to save more money, did you sit down and create a budget? Without a realistic strategy most people quickly fall back into old habits
As you can see I’ve been doing a lot of research. With these new tips from people who know what they’re talking—after all, they say they’re experts—I’ve got a real shot at turning away from my dismal past. I’m making exercise my main priority with eating better as a secondary goal. But I’ve got to make some changes. I know I can’t keep riding that stationary bike much longer or I will go crazy. Sorry, Rocky. The experts say change your environment to change your mindset and I believe them because again, they’re the experts.
So, I’ve got a plan now for the days when my motivational batteries are running low. Instead of trudging outside alone, I’ll bring along my dog, Max. He’s always ready for a long walk on roads less travelled. In particular, he likes Schaghticoke Road or the vistas one can enjoy along Cobble Road. This surely will work and I’m going to concentrate on one goal at a time.
Once I get into a groove with my outdoor walks it’ll give me the mental energy to sit down and develop a long-term strategy for improving my diet—over a glass of milk and a few macadamia and apricot cookies, of course.
Dave Dunleavy was a longtime reporter and columnist for The News-Times in Danbury. He lives in Kent. His column “View from the Front Porch” runs monthly.
