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Resolution resolve: Tips to help guide your lifestyle changes
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
We gave life coach Noah Blumenthal three hypothetical life changes and asked him to provide some tips for readers. Blumenthal is the author of "You're Addicted to You: Why It's So Hard to Change — and What You Can Do About It" (Berrett-Koehler).
STICKING TO YOUR DIET
Extras
Post your goal along with the benefits of sticking to your diet on your refrigerator or another highly visible place in your kitchen. This way anytime you go to get something to eat you will at least remember your goals.
Get a diet partner and talk once a week about what you are each doing. Don't focus too much on how you're doing (especially if things aren't going well). Concentrate on helping each other come up with new strategies.
Make your shopping list in advance and share it with your diet partner. Ask your partner to hold you accountable to just buy what is on your list. This will cut down and even eliminate craving purchases.
BEING NICER TO THOSE AROUND YOU
Make a commitment to a specific goal like praising two people each day. The more specific it is, the more it will direct you and actually affect your actions.
Keep a praise journal. Write down your two (or more) praises each day and review it once a week. If you can review this with a partner, even better.
Each time you are about to see someone take one minute to think about what you appreciate about them. This will put you in a positive frame of mind and give you ideas for what you can praise about them.
WORRYING LESS
Give yourself a worry time limit (e.g., 1 minute or the time it takes to listen to one of your favorite songs). Post this limit anywhere you will see it when you usually worry (e.g., dashboard, computer monitor, mirror).
Get a boldness partner. Find someone you admire for his or her willingness to take risks. Ask them to help you and talk to you each week about taking some risks.
Anytime you worry, think about a time in your life when you did something really bold and achieved a successful outcome. Replay that experience and then state a mantra to yourself like, "Be bold!"
— Meredith Moss,
Staff Writer
