Be realistic with resolutions, health officials advise
MADISON – “For 2025, I resolve to lose 10 pounds each month . . . for six months.” “This year, I’m cutting out junk food and sugar.” “I resolve to get a full eight hours of sleep each night.”
Every year, we do it to ourselves. “With New Year’s resolutions, the problem is, ‘New year, new me,’ is not how it works,” according to Alabama Department of Public Health.
With the hoopla for a ‘new year,’ in reality, “we’re still the same person we were at 11:59 p.m. on December 31 when the clock strikes midnight. We still have the same habits, preferences and financial constraints we’ve always had,” according to alabamapublichealth. gov. “Setting goals can be much more effective than setting resolutions,” Lita Chatham said. A Licensed Dietitian, Chatham works with the Nutrition and Physical Activity program affiliated with Alabama Department of Public Health.
“Perfectionism and rigidity of resolutions lead many (people) to believe if they mess up, they have to wait until next year to start over,” Chatham said. However, goals are less demanding, and “perfection isn’t the goal. A formal stop/start isn’t needed for healthy choices.”
Resolutions often fail because people shoulder too much at one time or attempt drastic changes. Thinking you can stop drinking coffee entirely on Jan. 1 is unrealistic if you’re a three-cup-a-day coffee drinker on Dec. 31. The much more effective approach is to set small goals, like reducing coffee intake to two cups daily or switching to decaffeinated. Visit nationaleatingdisorders. org.
The health department suggests setting achievable goals . . . not all-ornothing resolutions:
• Exercise – Madison residents have access to 100 Alabama Miles Challenge, a statewide program that inspires Alabamians to start healthy activities while exploring the state. Participants log 100 miles annually by walking, running, biking, hiking, swimming or paddling at public sites. Visit 100alabamamiles. org.
• Nutrition – Provide meals and snacks that lead to healthier eating habits. Residents can pursue Scale Back Alabama, a self-guided plan for individuals to set and track health and wellness goals. Visit alabamapublichealth. gov/ npa/sba.html.
• Sleep – Lack of sleep is linked to chronic diseases, like type 2 diabetes and depression. Vehicle crashes and on-the-job mistakes are more likely. Visit cdc. gov/sleep for sleep facts and disorder descriptions.
• Smoking — Quitting smoking can add years to a person’s life. Alabama Tobacco Quitline offers counseling to residents. If medically eligible, a person may receive up to eight weeks of nicotine patches. Call 1-800-784-8669, text “quit” to 1-205-900-2550, or visit quitnowalabama.com or Facebook/Alabama You Choose.
For more information, visit alabamapublichealth. gov/blog/2023/12/goals. html.
