Thursday, January 03, 2019

By Barbara Pronin It’s natural enough to make a New Year’s resolution or two: lose weight, save money, make a few new friends. But most studies tell us more than 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fall by the wayside by February.

The problem is not that we lack the willpower or ability, researchers say, but that we tend to set lofty goals with no clear route to achieving them.

The answer, they advise, is taking small steps, one at a time. If your goal is to drop a few pounds, for example, choose the diet you will follow, and stock up on recommended foods. Better yet, join a weight-loss support group, such as Weight Watchers or Overeaters Anonymous, and commit to attending meetings.

Health and discovery writers at How Stuff Works offer four more tips to help you reach your resolution goals:

Take a class - Learn about investing, or computers, or whatever appeals to you by enrolling in a single class at a local community college. It won’t cost much, and it can go a long way to giving you that route you are looking for.

Complete one physical challenge - If your goal is fitness, commit to completing a single physical challenge: a walk for charity, a bicycle marathon, a rock-climbing event. No matter where you finish, the act of participating may encourage you to tackle another, and taking pride in what you’ve done may prod you to join a cycling group, a local gym, a rock-climbing organization.

Finish an old project - Get out that scrapbook you started last year, or the fabric you wanted to quilt. It’s never too late to finish what you started, and seeing results may be all you need to rekindle your passion. If you intended to paint the kitchen or start a garden last year, and somehow it never got done, a trip to the home store for the needed materials may be just what you need to get you started.

Work on relationships - In our busy lives, it’s too easy to let relationships slide. If your goal is to make new friends, start by tending to the old ones. Start by calling a few people who’ve been important in your life. Real friendships just may blossom.

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