10 Attainable New Year’s Resolutions for 2018

It’s important to set New Year’s resolutions that are realistic, and here are 10 examples that you can take with you for the 2018 year.

By Susan B. Sloane, BS, RPh, CDE

The New Year is quickly approaching, and this is the time of year that we make those dreaded “New Year’s Resolutions.” You know, those promises we make ourselves that we often find difficult to keep.

One of the reasons we find it so hard to keep resolutions is because we tend to be too hard on ourselves. We give ourselves a hard time for not keeping our promises or punish ourselves for slipping up. One of the keys to successful resolutions is making resolutions that are realistic and don’t set you up for failure. Small steps towards your goals work best because you can see your progress along the way and if you slip up, you don’t take a huge step backward.

If you’re thinking about establishing a New Year’s resolution for this year, you may want to think carefully about what’s an achievable and proactive goal. Here are some straightforward and attainable objectives that you may want to use as your New Year’s resolution:

1) I will lose weight.

Don’t try and lose more than five pounds at a time. Instead, make the goal realistic and choose weight loss goals that are within your ability. Evidence shows that losing weight slowly (1-2 pounds/week) will allow you to keep the weight off longer.^[1]

2) I will lower my HbA1c.

This is a good goal if you need to lower blood sugars. But don’t expect your HbA1c to be perfect right away. Give yourself time to lower your blood sugars gradually and make small changes. Remember, slow and steady wins the race!

3) I will give up bread, pasta, and sweets.

This is one of the most challenging New Year’s resolutions on our list and may not be realistic depending on what you are used to eating. In order to make this goal more easily attainable, remove one food at a time or decrease eating that food slowly over several weeks. If you like pasta, for example, try eating whole wheat pasta, or decrease your portion size.

4) I will exercise more.

Don’t start out expecting to work out 5 times a week. Instead, start with 1-2 times a week at half-hour intervals and work your way up. If you set goals that are too lofty, you are more likely to give up on them when you cannot commit.

5) I will start a new career.

Try to enhance your knowledge by taking a course at a local college or vocational school. Don’t go “all in” by trying to learn everything there is to know about a new skill all at once. Instead, take small steps towards increasing your knowledge. What you find out about yourself and your interests may surprise you.

6) I will do something that is outside my comfort zone.

This is a resolution that will take you places you never imagined. It doesn’t mean that you need to go skydiving!! But you can try a painting class, or join a book club if you were never an avid reader. Such things often bring new-found friends and new points of view and they add a little spice to your life.

7) I will forgive someone.

Throughout the year there will always be those that may hurt and/or disappoint us; learn to forgive. We are all on this journey together and we will make mistakes from time to time. Forgiving allows us to move forward and build stronger relationships.

8) I will make sure to go to the dentist regularly.

These appointments are easy to forget, but if you’re living with diabetes, you need to take extra special care of your oral hygiene. Try to have your teeth cleaned every 6 months and even more often if you have established gum disease.

9) I will use my Dario app to help me manage my diabetes.

Believe it or not, once you begin using the Dario app you’ll be amazed at how much it simplifies diabetes management. Don’t try and use all of the features at once. Instead, take a few features and use them to help you manage a certain aspect of your condition, one step at a time. It may be the carb counting feature to help you get an idea of how much you’re consuming, or it may be the logbook to see how your blood glucose trends over time. Whatever it is, make an effort to learn about the app and all the unique features it has.

10) Last but not least, have a wonderful new year!!!

Make 2018 the best year so far; take advantage of every day to learn something new and grow as an individual, and make every possible effort to help you thrive with diabetes!