Whoever decided we should all pursue self-improvement the morning after New Year’s Eve must not have been much of a drinker. Asking the general population to follow an evening that involves staying awake until at least midnight and usually includes an extra cocktail or two with major life changes seems a little cruel. You—please quit smoking today, when your head has never hurt so much before.
Inconvenient timing aside, the concept of taking time each year for some reflection is important. In an age when our cell phones can tell us how to get around town better than the locals, some introspection is healthy. With a constant focus on improving products, politics and the economy, a little attention to our personal lifestyles only seems fair.
Despite the assumption that self-evaluation comes as a component of the holiday, the Marist Poll found only 44 percent of U.S. residents planned on making resolutions for 2011. This leaves 56 percent of the population either thinking they don’t need to make any changes or that resolutions aren’t worth it.
The top resolution
s for Americans include the expected quit smoking, drink less, exercise more, eat better, spend less, be a better person and get out of debt. Other less common but still popular goals include find a soul mate, get more organized, travel more, help others more and text less, The Washington Times reports.
CNN says almost four out of five Americans who make resolutions do not stick to them. With a failure rate close to 80 percent, one answer to the lack of enthusiasm for new goals with the New Year is simply that resolutions are hard to keep.
But now that your head has had a few days to recover, let us, at Sun Valley Magazine, help you out. Here are the top tips on how to make your New Years resolutions stick:
1. Make your resolutions realistic. As TIME says, “Don’t kid yourself.” Choosing unrealistic goals doo
ms you from the start. Make your resolution something you believe you are capable of accomplishing.
2. Make them specific. CNN reports, “Small and tangible, one-day-at-a-time goals work best.” If your goal is too broad or you don’t have a plan for how to achieve it, you are more likely to get intimidated and quit from the start.
3. Reward yourself when you succeed. Studies show people are better motivated if they receive a reward for doing something well than if they are punished for failure. If you slip up one day, do not be too hard on yourself. Keep going and treat yourself for your successes to stay motivated.
4. Hang out with the good crowd. Having people to support you when you’re trying to break a habit is important. Sometimes we all need someone else to step in and remind us of our goals. Tell people who support you what your resolution is so they can help stick to it. Also, TIME explains that both “consciously and unconsciously, people tend to imitate those around them…So surround yourself with friends who can be role models.” By spending time with people who do or don’t do certain things, you are more likely to follow suit.
5. Let technology help you out. Whether you decide to blog about your chosen challenge, track your workout schedule and healthy eating plans on Foursquare or download a phone app to keep track of how many cigs you smoked this week; the act of tracking your own behavior helps keep you self-aware and inline. For resolution cell phone app ideas, read more here. Or for other ideas on how to use social media to help you achieve your goal, read this.
If you didn’t get around to making a resolution on the first day of the New Year, make today the day you start. It’s not Jan. 1, 2011, but it’s close enough as far as we’re concerned. If you need some ideas for resolutions, take inspiration from those around you. Here are a few that Valley residents were willing to share:
Angenie McCleary—County Commissioner: “One of my goals professionally would be to improve the working relationship between the county and the other jurisdictions and to increase the number or issues we work on together.”
Bob Rosso—Co-owner of the Elephant’s Perch: “My resolution would be to help and see the local area economy continue in a positive and fun direction for everyone.”
Anne Mason—Co-owner/Baker of the Ketchum Grill: “My resolution is to get out there and get more exercise, which includes going to Angela’s Gym and getting out on my cross country skis.”
Chris Kastner—Co-owner/Chef of CK’s Real Food: “Mine is to work more efficiently and be more forgiving.”
Muffy Ritz—VAMPS Founder/Coach: “I’m going to try to read a book a month for every month. I only made it to nine last year, so I’m trying again.”
Things to Buzz about:
Ketchum 50th Anniversary Celebration Commemorative Coin Design Contest—Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011
Swing by the Ketchum City Clerks Office at 5 p.m. Thursday to see the results of Ketchum’s commemorative coin design contest. Any design submissions are welcome that relate to the area’s skiing heritage, mining heritage, the railroad heritage, the arts or animals indigenous to the area. One design related to each category will be chosen as a winner. Winning designers will receive a $100, and if their design is minted, they will be given a commemorative coin with the design. Design entry forms are available at the Ketchum City Hall or Ketchum Community Development Corp. office. Submissions are being taken now.
Galena Lodge and North Valley Trails free learn to ski clinics—Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011
Learn to Nordic ski, both skate and classic, for free at the Galena Lodge Sunday, Jan.9, 2011. Skate lessons begin at 1 p.m. and classic lessons are at 2:30 p.m. Rentals will be free during the lessons and discounted for the day. All BCRD trails can be used free and without a pass for the day. Preregistration is appreciated. Visit www.galenalodge.com or call 726-4010 for more information.
Sun Valley Telemark Series—Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011
Celebrate Sun Valley Tele with its Telemark Series, which is the longest-running Telemark Series in the country. All-terrain races for tele skiers and snowboarders will take place on Cozy all day on Baldy. Take part or ride by and watch.
