Are you planning to make any 2022 New Year’s resolutions?
There are steps you can take to improve the chances you will be successful at keeping them, behavioral and mental health professionals say.
According to a recent survey by Baltimore-based health and wellness company Medifast, only 10% of U.S. adults stick with their resolutions, and 47% of all resolutions are broken within the first month.
Among reasons people are unsuccessful in keeping their resolutions are they “make New Year’s resolutions around what people want for them; they are not doing it for themselves,” said Wanda Parker, vice president of clinical and therapeutic services with Olympia Fields-based Aunt Martha’s Health & Wellness, who has more than 20 years of experience in the behavioral health field.
“So, someone has put pressure on you to lose weight. You make a New Year’s resolution to do so, and you’re not necessarily ready to do that,” Parker said. “If you’re going to make a New Year’s resolution, it should be done for you.
More Top Picks Best Night Lights For Autistic Kids
“The other thing is people go too big,” she said. “Go big or go home doesn’t really work for New Year’s resolutions.”
Dr. Kamilah Banks-Word, a psychiatry physician at Family Christian Health Center which has sites in the south suburbs, echoed that sentiment.
“Setting too large of a goal can overwhelm people,” she said. “The past two years, things have been really complicated and trying because of the pandemic, so sticking to a resolution can sound very daunting and unattainable.”
They recommend setting small, measurable goals, keeping in mind you can go bigger after you’ve achieved those. They also suggest making sure you avoid setting too many goals.
Write down your goals either on paper or input them on your smartphone, so you can view them and have a constant reminder to help keep you motivated, said Banks-Word.
Having an action plan and tracking your progress is also key.
Parker recommends having an “accountability partner” with whom you can share your goals and who can provide support and help keep you on track. Some people avoid sharing their goals out of fear people will try to micromanage them or beat them over the head, so it’s important to be selective in who you choose as your accountability partner, Parker stressed.
Consider choosing someone who shares your goal, so you can provide support to each other, she said. If you don’t have a friend or family member who can provide that support, there are online options and apps that can help, noted Parker.
Plan for obstacles, said Banks-Word. There are obstacles we face whether related to one’s job or managing work and family that can sometimes hinder us from accomplishing certain goals, “so having that awareness in the back of your mind can help to keep you grounded to make sure you don’t give up on the goal,” she said.
“Extend yourself some grace,” said Parker. If you fall short, don’t view “failure as failure. Failure means you gained more understanding.”
As an example, she said maybe someone is in a toxic relationship and makes a resolution to get out of it but finds that’s a struggle.
“If you find yourself struggling, what are the barriers,” she said. “Maybe the goal shouldn’t have been to get out of the relationship right away but to address fears you have about ending the relationship or your self-esteem or feeling like you’re worthy and those are some goals you tackle, so you can get to a point where you can either fix the relationship or exit out.”
Setting and achieving your new year’s goals, “no matter how small or large can be beneficial for a person’s overall mental health,” said Banks-Word.
Keeping their recommendations in mind, my New Year’s resolution is to walk a minimum of 5,000 steps at least four days each week. To achieve that, I plan to walk at least 30 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes after lunch and 10 minutes after dinner. That alone should get me to 5,000 steps given the pace I plan to walk.
I know 10,000 steps every day is the recommended goal. My plan is to work my way up to that by the end of the year, and my sister will be my accountability partner.
I reached out to south suburbanites I’ve interviewed in recent months and asked them what if any resolutions for 2022.
Lynwood Mayor Jada Curry shared three. One of her resolutions is “to bring five new businesses to Lynwood with two being national chains,” she said. “Economic development is still greatly needed in Lynwood, so this is an ongoing focus for me. I will continue to work with the elected officials, staff and residents to ensure that we are attracting the types of businesses that will enhance the quality of life for residents.”
On a personal note, she said, “I plan to get back to reading. In the past, I could read a book in three days. During grad school I stopped reading for enjoyment and never resumed after graduation. I just ordered a new book to read over the holidays and am looking forward to diving into it.”
Her third resolution to “sleep more than four hours a night,” she said. “Being a new mayor has my focus on all things Lynwood. When I’m not thinking about Lynwood, I’m busy being a wife and mom. I found myself going to bed late and waking up throughout the night thinking about what was going to happen the next day. I’m challenging myself to stress a little less and get some rest.”
Christian Perry, who along with his wife, Chakena Perry, are co-founders of Justice-based Black Millennial Renaissance, said their 2022 resolution is to buy their first home by the end of the new year.
“We’ve made a plan to pay down debt and are developing a strategy to save the amount needed to put is in the best position,” he said.
He’s also in the process of relaunching a small business to earn extra income, he said.
South Suburban College President Lynette Stokes’ 2022 New Year’s resolution is to create a learning environment that “allows students to focus on learning while feeling safe and enjoying the journey to certificate or degree completion.
“We’ve all been taught that education changes things, and I know for a fact that it does,” she said. “However, it is challenging to focus on education when you’re faced with the stresses of juggling assignments, exams, research papers, extracurricular activities, finances, new responsibilities, sports, family time, social life and social media let alone having to navigate the day-to-day perils of living through a pandemic.”
More Top Picks Parent Rights Under Idea Explained In Plain English
She said she plans to use her “Lynette’s Letter” as a communications tool to encourage students “to prioritize their peace of mind, mental health wellness and to remove stress triggers prior to starting each day and before attending class.”
“Students will be encouraged to build relationships with their professors and academic and career counselors,” Stokes said. “Frequent and constant communication leads to remembering assignment deadlines, creates better study habits and fosters a questioning culture amongst students, peers and education professionals.”
To our readers, I wish you a happy new year and success in achieving your goals.
Francine Knowles is a freelance columnist for the Daily Southtown.