HOPE in the New Year

Winter. A time of natural rest and retreat, of wrapping ourselves in fluffy blankets and settling down, reflecting (or not!). Meanwhile, in perfect sync with nature, our furry and winged friends are nesting, mating, and traveling to warmer climates — making ready for a flurry of activity in the spring.

As mid-January approaches, coming off the holiday season, lots of us are still a bit out of sync with our usual routines. But despite this disorientation, millions of people around the globe are busy making resolutions and plotting toward a better self — in the dead of winter — a most unnatural time for planning to eat less, be more active and engage in social activities for most of us.

Yet according to a national representative sample conducted by the Economist, one in four Americans say they will make resolutions. While the number of resolutioners gets lower with age, we baby boomers are still chiming in at 60.91%. The big three are still healthier living, personal improvement and losing weight.

Doing The Work

No matter what the goal, statistics also tell us that less than 8% of people who make resolutions actually keep them and do not achieve their goals. One explanation for this is the CLIFF theory — something I happened upon several years ago. Here’s the breakdown:

Through the years, and lots of CLIFFs, I have navigated many an uncertain start to making changes, regardless of the season. Even when I used the very helpful and practical SMART model, I often came up short. With each new effort, I reminded myself that in addition to following this model, I also needed to find a way to make the changes enjoyable — especially if it involved a new diet or activity routine. But, I’m an old social worker — so trying to more fully understand why behaviors happen is important. It puts things in perspective and helps me to understand and normalize my actions.

Stages of Change

So awhile back, I pulled out one of my dusty theory books and read the Stages of Change with new eyes. What a relief! This model was designed in the ’70s to help understand why some smokers were able to quit and others were not. Essentially, change happens in cycles, or stages. A great sense of relief came when I learned that stages often overlap. This was huge in helping to understand all the hesitations, starting and restarting I’d experienced. I was further affirmed by knowing that change is not a straightforward process and that there will most likely be a number of attempts; the key is that each iteration brings us closer to achieving our goals. This perspective has been an absolute boon when trying to figure out where I’m stuck:

Conclusion

Coming off almost a full three months of visiting family, hanging out with my sisters — hiking, eating, buying my first wig in my 67th year (!) and cooking with my son and 20 month old granddaughter, I have never begun a new year with more HOPE: High On Positive Energy. With the right combination of persistence, dedication, patience and flexibility, we can develop new and good habits. Seeking like-minded company is high on the list of things that increase successful outcomes. As a former fitness instructor and group facilitator for helping professionals, I applaud the value and use of coaches and mentors. Participation in online learning groups is also extremely valuable. Often marketed as ‘challenges,’ these groups run the gamut of topics and are facilitated by professionals and subject-matter experts. There are a wealth of interactive opportunities on the various social media platforms; I have also found them at my local library.

Whatever path you take, find your HOPE and — whether or not you join the 8%, do it on your terms!

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