Ask The County Agent: New Year’s Resolutions

By OLIVIA HANDLEY, Coweta County Family & Consumer Sciences Agent

QUESTION: How can I make New Year’s Resolutions and keep them?

AGENT: Many of us start the New Year with high hopes of making big changes to our health, lifestyle, or financial well-being.

For most of us, those hopes are quickly forgotten, and we resort back to our old ways. We set unrealistic goals and fall short of the desired changes we are looking for. This year, look to small changes with big pay offs in the future.

Improving your life requires planning; and it starts with setting S.M.A.R.T. goals.

SMART Goals should have criteria that correspond to each of the following categories: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound.

• Make goals that are Specific; clearly defined or outlined, the Who? What? Where? When? And Why?
• Make goals that are Measurable; how will you measure your progress; what do you want to do?
• Make goals that are Attainable; neither too easy, nor too hard to accomplish? Is it likely to happen; is it achievable, what steps are involved?
• Make goals that are Realistic; what knowledge, skills, resources, and abilities are necessary to reach this goal?
• Make goals that have a Timeline; when will it start, when will it finish? Will it be a short-term goal or a long-term goal? Set a specific deadline to the goal.

Physical Goals

• Let’s get moving! Try to incorporate physical movement in your daily routine. Every move counts!
• Look for ways to lower salt, sugar, and saturated fat consumption. Swap out one or two less healthy food options for better, healthier choices.
• Increase amounts of protein, fiber, and vitamins and minerals such as calcium and vitamin D. Look for ways to vary protein sources and also eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
• Eat fewer processed foods and sugary drinks. Choose whole foods and water to drink.

Mental Goals

• Pick up a new hobby or join a new group with similar interests or goals. Volunteering is a great way to connect with people and make new friends.
• Make a plan to spend more time on things you enjoy- friends, family, travel, whatever it may be.
• Create good sleep patterns. Better sleep can improve memory, mental functions, and overall health.
• Get unplugged. Try to spend a day or two a month without your gadgets and technology and enjoy nature, board games, or reading a book.

Environmental Goals

• Reduce clutter whenever possible. Sort mail daily, clean out closets, and pantries regularly. Check for expiration dates on medicines and foods, discarding any out of date.
• Maintain a cleaning schedule for your home. Clean kitchen daily. Remove shoes at the door when possible. Make bed daily.
• Save money as part of a weekly or monthly routine. Get in the habit of paying into a savings account first instead of last.
• Live green. Recycle when you can and look for products with a lower carbon footprint. Try to make or buy green, or environmentally friendly, cleaning products and reuse items as much as you can.

Resolutions can be difficult to keep, but by making smaller changes, we can make some big improvements in our daily life. It is also important to not be discouraged and give up after one or two slip-ups. Keep at it and this year will prove to be a great one!!