You At Your Best

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2017 | JANUARY - NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS NWADG.COM/YOUATYOURBEST | YOU AT YOUR BEST | 11 BY SARAH HANEY NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Many people see the dawn of a new year as the perfect time to implement changes that they hope will have positive impacts on their lives in the year ahead. Often, setting a goal that's too vague or making a resolution that is unrealistic can lead to not reaching your goals. New Year's resolutions have a way of falling by the wayside as the year progresses, but sticking with the following healthy resolutions can have lasting impacts on the lives of men and women. Read more Many adults wish they had more time to read, but busy schedules filled with commitments to work and family can make it hard to pick up a book every day. Studies have shown that reading improves fluency and story retention while providing a host of additional benefits to young children. Reading also can be calming, helping to reduce stress as a result. By joining a book club, a person can be motivated to read more often. Sleep more More time to sleep might seem like an unattainable goal for many men and women. But ongoing sleep deficiency can increase a person's risk for chronic health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. It is recommended that adults age 18 and older get between seven and eight hours of sleep per night. Turn off your devices Adults made it through their days without smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and other devices just a mere 15 years ago. While it might seem impossible to live without such devices in the 21st century, turning them off can have profound impacts on people's quality of life. Stress can negatively affect the musculoskeletal system, the respiratory system and the nervous system and potentially increase a person's risk for heart disease and gastrointestinal problems. Diet One of the most common resolutions, going on a diet is also one of the most commonly failed resolutions. Sticking to a healthy diet can be more difficult than first assumed. With a little willpower, and some motivation from loved ones, maintaining a healthy diet can be a successful resolution. Portion control and proper exercise can help fulfill this goal. Committing to healthy New Year's resolutions can have profound and unexpected consequences that can greatly improve one's quality of life. While it's difficult to gauge just how many people make New Year's resolutions each year, various factors suggest millions of people resolve to improve their lives each January. The following strategies may help people stick to their resolutions this year. Plan on being patient Men and women who expect immediate results may be in for some disappointment, and that can compromise their future efforts. Recognize that resolutions rarely produce overnight results, and that commitments to losing weight and saving more money take time. If necessary, set small goals that can serve as markers on your way to achieving the larger goal. Be as specific as possible In addition to being patient, being specific when deciding on a resolution can increase the likelihood that the successful pursuit of that resolution will have as positive an impact on your life as possible. For example, a nonspecific resolution to lose weight may be successful if you only shed a single pound. But men and women who resolve to lose weight typically want to lose more than one pound. By resolving to lose a predetermined and specific number of pounds, you might be more likely to commit to your goal, and more encouraged the closer you get to achieving that goal. Don't be shy Sharing your resolution with others is a great way to generate support for your pursuit. And that support can motivate you if you hit a rough patch and keep you on track as you progress toward your goal. By sharing your resolution with others, you're also indirectly inviting others who might have set similar goals in the past to offer incite and/or advice, which can prove invaluable. Expect setbacks Just like it's important to be patient, it's equally important to recognize there will be setbacks. Men and women who resolve to save more money and have set specific monthly savings goals should not allow one monthly shortfall to derail all of their efforts. An unforeseen expense such as an automotive or home repair might compromise your ability to meet your monthly savings goal. Such setbacks are inevitable regardless of your resolution, so don't be discouraged when they happen. Just commit to getting back on track in time to meet your next goal. Successful New Year's resolutions might be hard to come by. But there are ways to stay the course and see resolutions through to realization. Making healthy New Year's resolutions

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