That New Year’s Resolution...Have You Given Up Already?

January 07, 2013

Here we are at the end of the first week of the New Year.  And, many of us have broken the New Year’s Resolution that we had good intentions of keeping. Why does this happen? Maybe, we are putting too much emphasis on things that we think we should be changing because that is what others tell us is important.  Or, maybe we set our goals too high. 

For example, most people say, "I am going to join a gym and lose 50 lbs." Then, after the first month, most people find excuses to not go to the gym and those 50 pounds seems too high a goal. Then, they get discouraged altogether.

Some want to get more organized in the New Year. They go out and buy all kinds of containers and organizing books to help them. They go and tackle the whole house, drag everything out, get overwhelmed, put it back, and now have more clutter of containers and organizing books! 

We will keep doing this until we find out the real reason why we don’t want to exercise or why our life is cluttered. Until we do, we will continue to repeat the same behavior.

Here are few helpful hints if you truly want to change.

• Commit to exercising at least 30 minutes a day in some way. I have some friends that do things with their kids on the Wii, and they have lost quite a bit and feel great.
• Don’t completely take out all the foods you love from your diet. Just have them less often or in smaller portions. For example, when I would like to have a blizzard from DQ, I get a mini size.
• When organizing, take on smaller tasks. For example, if you want to take on organizing the kitchen, organize one cabinet or even one shelf at a time.  Have an egg timer. Decide how long you think it should take you, and set the timer. This will help you stay on task.
• When you want to organize your time, make a to-do list. It helps you remember all the things you need to get done. And you feel a sense of accomplishment when your list is checked off.

Becoming healthier and getting organized should not cost you a lot of money. MCPL has over 170 exercise DVDs as well as various books on how to get organized.

Here are a few to help you get started.

• 31 Ways to Create an Organized Life by Marcia Zina Mager
• Messie No More –Understanding and Overcoming the Roadblocks to Being Organized by Sandra Felton
• Live More Want Less by Mary Carlomagno
• If You Haven’t Got the Time To Do It Right, When Will You Find the Time To Do It Over? By Jeffrey Mayer
• Your Spacious Self:  Clear the Clutter and Discover Who You Are by Stephanie Bennett Vogt
• Clutter Rehab: 101 Tips and Tricks to Become an Organization Junkie and Love It! by Laura Wittman

Some Exercise DVD’s to choose from:

• Total Body Pilates by Karen Voight
• Start!  Walking at Home 1 & 2 mile by Leslie Sanson
• Billy Blanks Tae Bo Express by Billie Blanks
• Beginners Weight-loss Transformation By Bob Harper.

And remember, if you want to buy exercise equipment, check into getting them second hand. Many people buy them and never use them. You can get a great savings on them.

Take small steps and you will reach your goal. 

Donna G.
Camden Point Branch