Tips to keep your New Year’s resolutions

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) –

“My New Year’s resolution is to get rid of all the extra weight I put on,” said Shrey Bandey, a Wisconsin Rapids resident. I’ve been sitting home with the family over the pandemic, so it’s high time that we should basically join a gym.”

“The goal right now is to stay healthy and continue my job,” said Shary Baumgarten, a La Crosse resident. “I’ve been fortunate to be able to keep my job through this COVID thing.”

Setting a wise goal and sticking to it–that’s what Mayo Clinic Health System therapist Janice Schreier hopes for those making 2021 intentions.

“We think about resolutions as something we do at the beginning of the year, but ideally we should be doing these resolutions or goals throughout the whole year,” said Schreier. “When we’re actively working on something, that just fuels a good mood for us.”

Some of the most common goals revolve around health and fitness, but experts stress the importance of making sure they’re also attainable.

“When you make a goal and give up on it, it doesn’t feel that good, right?” Schreier added. “Obviously, we want to make our goals something that’s achievable.”

“I usually don’t make resolutions because I’ve learned through the years, if you make a resolution those can be a disappointment, so I just say it’s a goal,” said Baumgarten.

Instead, make a solid plan–if a goal seems to hard for you at first, don’t give up but tweak it.

“This is my resolution from last year, I decided to start lifting weights, kettle bells,” Schrier said as an example. “First I was like, I’m going to do it for 30 minutes three days a week! OK I was not feeling it but once I moved it to 20 minutes three days a week, success.”

Schreier also suggests having a friend or partner join you to help hold you accountable.

She says the buddy system makes resolutions easier to achieve.

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