New Year's Resolutions: Another Rule To Be Broken?
"This year, I'm going to lose 15 pounds!"
"This year, I'm going to spend more 'me' time!"
"This year, I'm going to give back to my community!"
Sound familiar? We've all made New Year's resolutions, and more notably, we've all broken them. Some people make the same resolution over and over, hoping that this new year is the year they'll finally make it happen. Many share their resolutions with most of the world, such as the classic weight loss resolution.
Did you know that the most popular resolution is spending more time with friends and family? And did you also know that most people break their resolutions by January 24th? That's it. An average of 24 days is all we seem to be able to commit.
Given that most resolutions revolve around our personal health and family time, I think it's unspeakably sad that we have trouble committing beyond 24 days. It's known around the world that Americans tend to overwork themselves. Sometimes this can't be helped. Sometimes it's work extra hours or lose your job. But when work follows you home over the weekend and you forfeit your valuable and limited time with your loved ones, in my opinion, a line is crossed.
Happiness plays a big role in your health! If you're not happy, you don't eat right. If you don't eat right, you gain weight, which stresses your organs and body systems. But if you're feeling great, you get out there and socialize. You go for walks. You visit community hot spots. You become a part of the world; not just the working world, but the world as a larger whole.
If that wasn't convincing enough for you, then how about this? Studies (Thomas Glass, British Medical Journal) have concluded that your level of social participation is a greater measure of health than blood pressure and cholesterol! These are two of America's biggest heart health concerns, and your level of socialization trumps them!
It's way too easy to veg in front of the TV with a once-full bag of chip crumbs, flipping through channels and scouring the metallic bag for any wrinkles that may be hiding more crunchy goodness. This is why we must pay close attention to our blood pressure and cholesterol. We're clogging up our bodies with our boredom! So what sounds like a better afternoon—old sitcom reruns, or visiting the zoo, or a theme park, or a museum with friends? I don't know about you, but I'd choose the zoo any day… assuming the sun's shining!
All this goes to say that if you spend time with the people you love and take care to eat smaller, better portions (at least for one meal a day), you're nearly guaranteed better health! Now how's that for a New Year's resolution you can stick to?