Illustration: Clayton Junior
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Day 1 of the new year may seem the perfect time for a fresh start,
but let's face it: After a season of indulgence, going cold
turkey on
anything is iffy at best. "It's hard to
avoid temptation in January," says Oklahoma State University
social psychologist
Melissa
Burkley, PhD. "There's usually too much food and alcohol
left over from the holidays." Burkley's more realistic
three-month plan can help you succeed:
January: The Warm-Up
Too often, people fail to build in a prep period when they set goals.
It's hard to, say, begin a successful diet if you haven't
removed foods that may trigger you to overeat. Spending a week or two
ramping up for a new behavior will signal to your brain,
Hey,
it's time to make a change! You should also use this time to
write down your resolutions.
February: The Starting Line
Now that you're prepared, get going! But instead of launching a
new habit on a Monday, opt for the first Wednesday of the month.
Mondays are inherently prone to long to-do lists and curveballs. By
Wednesday, you'll be more settled in. Another bonus: Starting
midweek may lead to greater success because three days is always
easier than five.
March and Beyond: Check-In
Don't forget to regularly review the goals you've set. Pick
the same day each month to assess how things are going—are you
getting closer to your goal? Have you plateaued? Are you moving
backward? Keep in mind that most people will have many lapses on the way to lasting change, so be prepared to
adjust as you go.
— Arianna Davis
