Five Strategies for Success In 2020 Resolutions

Recently, I created a video on my YouTube channel to discuss five strategies for attaining success in the new year and with the new year steadfastly approaching, new years resolutions are being made. Weight loss, weight gain, travel to Hawaii and Bali, make a new friend or possibly landing your dream job. Whether you are in the category of any of these or have other plans in order, I want to set you straight with five ways for you to be successful and joyful in the new year.

1. Start with you: Sounds easy right? Well it is if you are responsible, disciplined and hold yourself accountable for all the choices and decisions that you make in executing your plan. Imagine that YOU are the control tower and your life revolves around how well you are reading the radar and screens in front of your regarding planes departing and arriving on your tarmac. You are radioed in that a flight arriving from Germany is ready to land; however a flight leaving for Japan in on the same tarmac needed to leave. I am no flight expert in any way; however two planes cannot simultaneously fly out and land on the same tarmac at the same time. So a decision must be made to direct the arriving flight to hold off on landing due to a flight departing.

How does this even relate you ask? You are in control of your life: the decisions you make have consequences and the choices you make have repercussions. You know you and what works best for you, as well as, what has not worked in the past. Be the best you for the best outcome in 2020.

2. Set short term, realistic goals: When starting off with a workout plan, begin with short-term realistic goals rather than long-term, unrealistic goals. Each new year that begins during the months of January through March, there is a 150% spike in membership because people want to lose weight and make transformations to their bodies that they are unhappy with from the previous year. Commercial fitness facilities hold sales such as “$0 down and first month free” or “no enrollment fee and just $9.95 per month”. I would not turn that deal down either!

When you begin your gym journey, begin with attendance two to three times a week for a duration of 30 minutes throughout the first month. For the second month, you may maintain this same schedule or increase to three times a week for 30 minute duration. For the third month, you may maintain at three times a week or increase to four times weekly. It is important to maintain this schedule to set a routine for yourself that is easy to maintain and does not place a burden on your daily activity.

3. Cut out bad habits/unhealthy eating: In order to reach your fitness goals, sacrifices will have to be made and it is your responsibility to be disciplined in maintaining this practice. Of course, cutting out your favorite dessert or fried foods may be difficult at first and discipline is not something that comes like riding bicycle to all. Below are a list of foods and practice that need to be cut to attain your health goal:

• Fast food products such as Popeyes, Chick-fil-A, BK and other chains
• Reduce heavily oiled cooking and reliance on non-natural seasonings
• No alcohol
• No candy/sweets
• Quit smoking/vaping/drug use

4. Limit screen time: Screen time is destroying our youth and generations that follow. We are becoming so consumed in our need to have a phone or tablet that it is changing our moods, reducing socialization and forcing stores to close and replace humans with robots. Children are isolating themselves, adults are divorcing and animals have their own YouTube, Instagram and Facebook accounts — the driving force being this obsession with a need to be ahead. This obsession is the very thing that can very well hinder your success in life or may help with your entrepreneurship.

When it comes to reaching your fitness goals, leave your phone in the car or at home because your phone will not help you lose weight, get muscles or make you faster. Your phone may count your steps, but having your phone on you at the gym is not a necessity unless, and only unless, you use it for music purposes only. There is nothing more annoying then watching someone texting non-stop while sitting on a machine they are not using. The machine is not your sofa or couch with popcorn. By limiting your screen time in the gym, you will maximize your results.

5. Follow the 80/20 rule: The 80/20 rule emphasizes 80% focus on dieting/healthy eating and 20% on lifestyle practices. You want to eat healthy and change your diet to curtail dishes that are balanced. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has a 2015-2020 Health Guideline that can guide you to make smart choices in the food products you choose. At the end of this article, I will include a hyperlink you can click to access the guidelines homepage. I know you are asking yourself: can I really do this? I am not sure I am capable of doing all this. I understand and empathize with you because we all fear change for the outcome is unknown and some of us do not want to change even though you are well-aware change is necessary for health reasons.

You can do this, you can empower yourself and you can be successful. If you are not sure where to start or how to use a machine, ask a member of the gym to show you. You are not obligated to purchase training sessions if you choose not to and gym staff are often available to answer questions you have. Remember, this all begins and ends with you. Check out my YouTube video below for more tips! When you achieve goals, reward yourself with a healthy, positive thing. I wish you joy, luck and success in your 2020!

~N10~

Link: https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/