Are Your New Year’s Resolutions Failing? Time to Get Back on Track

Are Your New Year’s Resolutions Failing?
Time to Get Back on Track

by Dr. Peggy Malone

This past Monday is what ‘They’ call: Blue Monday.

It has been dubbed the most depressing day of the year because of a combination of weather, lack of light, Christmas/Holiday bills coming in and… New Years Resolutions starting to fail.

How are you doing? Did you find this past Monday or this week has got you down?

Today I want to talk about the fact that getting healthy and staying that way is not always easy. Along the way you will definitely hit some bumps in the road… the key is to keep moving forward after a temporary setback.

People have said to me that it must be so nice to make such great choices for my health and wellness and fitness and how do I do it so easily?

I am quick to let them know that even though I write about and educate about health and wellness, I don’t always make the perfect choices for my health every minute of every day. I have the occasional setback and weakness just like everyone else.

The difference between success and failure in any endeavor is taking personal responsibility for the choices that have lead you to where you are today and then making better choices on your journey toward a healthier future.

Another difference between success and failure is that, when a setback or moment of weakness comes along, the successful person will recognize it as a temporary blip and forgive themselves and get back on track… where the unsuccessful person will give up.

So I’m glad that people see me as the fit and healthy person that is setting an example for others to follow. I take that as a huge responsibility and I work hard every day to make choices that reflect that healthy person.

Keep in mind though that I have made a conscious choice to be healthier, it certainly doesn’t come easy to me. I am excellent at avoiding exercise and sitting on the couch eating chips and dip 🙂

I am a work in progress and so are you!

If I can fight through the temptations of bad health choices, then you can too! Anyone who is ready to make a change can take steps today to be healthier.

Some of you have likely made some really great changes with respect to your health in the past few weeks after the new year. This is an amazing step on the path to a future healthier you!

Do you remember January 1st when you first decided to make the change and you set out ready to go big?

You most likely felt pumped and focused and as though you were on track. You had great energy that was focused on something really great for your health and your future.

I want you to know and expect that, if you haven’t already, you will most likely find a time in the coming weeks or months where you will suffer a setback.

Let me be the first to tell you that when you do… It’s ok! Everyone does. Every successful person has experienced a setback on the way to success.

The key though is that when it happens… recognize it as a little setback, forgive yourself …and get back on track.

Don’t let one slip take your focus off of your future by giving up until next January 1. You can do it!  You are worth it.

Do you know anyone in your life that is working hard right now to make a change to their health and wellness habits?

I challenge you, now that you have read this, to encourage them to keep going, don’t quit.

Helping others stay accountable to their goals is a way that you will be more likely to stay on track with yours.

Each one of us has to make a conscious choice every day to make health a priority. Make one decision today that will change the next year of your life and beyond. Expect a setback, encourage others and ask them to encourage you.

Believe you can do it. I believe you can. Most people will try something repeatedly before they achieve success. If you go into the process assuming it will be easy and that you won't have a stumble or setback, you are once again setting yourself up for disappointment.

Some people have the idea that if they 'mess up' then they are done for the year and they have to wait until next January 1 to try again. Expect that you are going to have a setback and so when one shows up, you can recognize that it's a minor blip, forgive yourself, and get back on track!

Live Well,

Dr. Peggy Malone is a Chiropractor and an Athlete who helps other athletes to overcome injury and get back to their sport. Her weekly Television Series 'Living Well" inspires people from all walks of life to take control of their health to be as happy and as healthy as they can be.

A former varsity Basketball and Rugby player, she has since entered the world of endurance athletics where she has completed 2 Ironman Triathlons, 3 Marathons, several Half Marathons and many other Triathlons, Road Races and Off-Road Adventure races of varying distances.

Her own athletic endeavors and injuries have given her valuable insight into working with athletes in her practice for both the care of injuries as well as for the improvement of athletic performance.