How To Keep Our New Resloutions Alive
For many of us the resolutions we make on New Year’s Day become a thing of the past by January 15. There are a few simple steps we can take to keep our resolution(s) alive.
1. Be Specific
Too often we resolve to develop a grand, amorphous plan—like “spend more time with my kid” or “get in shape.” The problem here is that the goal is so vague that we have no direction so quickly we lose our ambition.
By being specific we answer the questions, “What does it look like? What would I see?” With respect to the two examples noted above, better resolutions would be: “I will read a bed-time story to my child at least four times a week for the month of January” or “by January 4th I will join a gym and sign up with a trainer to complete eight training sessions by February 15.”
2. Take Small Steps—“Babysteps”
Keep the steps simple and small—and achievable. Be proud of your small accomplishments because several small steps lead to a major change. A pound lost per week is 4 pounds per month which is nearly 50 pounds in a year.
3. Make Your Commitment Known
Write down your specific resolution on index cards and tape them on your bathroom mirror, kitchen cabinet, and dashboard in your car. Remind yourself frequently of your objective. Tell your Family members and your friends of your goals, as well.
4. Set Your Reward
Regularly assess your progress. For example, when you have read to your child four times a week for three consecutive weeks reward yourself by taking your child out to dinner, or to a movie, or a ball game, etc. By the same token, if you met your goal of eight training sessions, reward yourself with a new workout outfit.
5. Continue to Re-evaluate
Adjust your goals and rewards as you progress and hopefully reach your objective(s).
With these basic steps the odds of realizing and maintaining your resolutions are much increased. Your resolutions can become healthy habits.
Larry F. Waldman, Ph.D., ABPP is a licensed psychologist who practiced in Phoenix for nearly 40 years. He worked with children, adolescents, parents, adults, and couples. He also provided forensic consultations in the areas of family law, personal injury, and estate planning. He speaks professionally to laypersons, educators, corporations, and fellow mental health professionals. He teaches graduate courses for the Educational Psychology Department for Northern Arizona University. He is the author of “Who’s Raising Whom? A Parent’s Guide to Effective Child Discipline,” “Coping with Your Adolescent,” “How Come I Love Him but Can’t Live With Him? Making Your Marriage Work Better,” “The Graduate Course You Never Had: How to Develop, Manage, Market a Flourishing Private Practice—With and Without Managed Care,” “Too Busy Earning a Living to Make Your Fortune? Discover the Psychology of Achieving Your Life Goals,” and “Overcoming Your Negotiaphobia: Negotiating Your Way Through Life.” His contact information is: 602-418-8161; [email protected]; TopPhoenixPsychologist.com.
Originally Published on https://topphoenixpsychologist.com/
Dr. Waldman is a recently semi-retired licensed clinical, forensic psychologist in Phoenix, Arizona. He conducted a highly successful private practice of 45 years working with children, teens, parents, couples, and adults in a solution-focused manner. He also consulted with family, personal injury, immigration and estate planning attorneys. His BS in Education/Psychology was from the University of Wisconsin; his MS in School Psychology was at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; his Ph.D. in Educational/School Psychology was earned at Arizona State University; and his Diplomate (ABPP) was received in 2003.
Waldman was the past president of the Maricopa Psychological Society, the Director of Psychological Services for Charter Psychiatric Hospital of Glendale, an “Official Guide” (top expert) on Parenting for SelfGrowth.com and was a Medical Consultant for the Social Security Office in Phoenix. He continues as an adjunct graduate professor in counseling and serves on the professional advisory board of Stepping Stones of Hope, a charitable organization serving children whom have lost a parent. Waldman also was the co-chair of the Early Career Psychologists Committee with the Arizona Psychological Association (AzPA) for five years. He is certified by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) as a (senior) fitness specialist and is a yoga instructor, certification in process, offering “yoga for seniors.”
In addition to numerous articles which have been published in the local Phoenix media and in the national press, Waldman has (thus far) written seven books: Who’s Raising Whom? Coping with Your Adolescent; How Come I Love Him But Can’t Live with Him? The Graduate Course You Never Had, 2nd Edition; Too Busy Earning a Living to Make Your Fortune? Overcoming Your Negotiaphobia: Negotiating Through Your Life; and Love Your Child More Than You Hate your Ex.
Dr. Waldman trained as a public speaker and has presented for PESI. His signature presentations are: The Business of Private Practice—The Graduate Course You Never Had and Teaching Parents to Parent. He has made over 150 paid presentations in his career to attorneys, chiropractors, psychologists, family therapists, counselors, social workers, school psychologists and school counselors. To the community Waldman speaks on parenting, marriage, stress, depression and anxiety, wellness, grand parenting and psychotherapy. He also is a seasoned podcast guest. His seminars are organized, practical and entertaining—offering “edutainment.”
