Are you a fan of making New Year’s Resolutions or does the thought cause you to roll your eyes? Whether you like making resolutions or not, you have to admit that the beginning of a new year is a great time for some self-reflection and (at least some) consideration towards self-improvement.
According to makinghappyhabits.com, “Of those who make a New Year’s resolution, after 1 week 75% are still successful in keeping it. After two weeks, the number drops to 71%. After 1 month, the number drops again to 64%. And after 6 months, 46% of people who make a resolution are still successful in keeping it.”
Maybe we need to rethink our approach to making New Year’s resolution?
Ever heard of the Japanese term “Kaizen?” It’s a business philosophy that embraces continuous improvement in working practices, personal efficiency, etc. In a nutshell, it’s all about incremental improvement. In other words, start small and stick to your effort(s).
For example, instead of saying “I’m going to lose 50 lbs and get healthy this year,” maybe you start with small practices that should (with continuity) move you toward the goal of improving your health overall. Maybe your resolutions include things like:
• Move/ walk for 20 minutes 3x weekly. (Work up to 7x per week—or increase the length of time.)
• Meditate regularly. (Twice weekly to start, moving to daily.)
• Listen to a wellness podcast once, weekly (then more often).
You get the idea.
Keep in mind that whatever you’d like to improve in your life (e.g. your health, your work-life balance, your focus / concentration), it’s going to take some time. You built the unfavorable behavior over time, so don’t expect quick change when it comes to results. Allow yourself some grace. Chart your progress somewhere where you’ll see it every day.
Soon you’ll be crushing those 2023 Resolutions!
To learn more about how to improve your OVERALL life-long wellness, call the team at Innovative Wellness Centers 614.601.6272.
