Three Tips to Help Safely Reach Your New Year Resolutions
Get in that last minute studying and put the final touches on those papers because the Fall semester is about to come to an end. With the new year just a month away, students have Spring on their mind, and all the opportunities that come with the new season.
“Quit smoking, eat better and exercise. Those are the three big New Year’s resolutions,” says Jessica Setnick, a clinical dietician, and CAMPUSPEAK speaker on nutrition and disordered eating. “The temptation to think of January 1 as a time to turn over a new leaf is pretty strong for college students.”
For those planning on making a resolution this year, remember to keep safety in mind when deciding on the change factor for the 2012 year, and use these three tips to help attain those goals.
1. Focus on what you will do
It’s important not to focus on what you will avoid, but rather what new steps you will take to make your goal. Focus on a resolution like “eat less junk” when you haven’t specified what you will do instead. A better resolution would be “eat more fruit.”
2. Be specific
“Eat at least three fruits a day” is better than “Eat more fruit.” “Eat a fruit with breakfast, lunch and in the afternoon” is even better.
3. Make ongoing goals
Set ongoing goals rather than expecting perfection overnight. For example, “This year, I will strive to eat a fruit with breakfast, lunch and in the late afternoon each day.” That way, if you don’t make it one day, you don’t have to call it a fail and give up.
New Year’s resolutions are always set with good intentions, but sometimes they just don’t work out.
“It is always OK to tell yourself that even though it seemed smart at the time that your new year’s resolution isn’t working for you. It’s like a relationship—sometimes you don’t realize it’s not a good fit until the glow wears off. Most people think they haven’t worked hard enough, but if your resolution was unrealistic, you were doomed from the start. Every day is a new opportunity to be more healthy. In fact, every meal is another chance,” says Jessica.
If a goal needs reevaluating, take that step. Staying healthy and happy this school year should be the main focus for students.
“Individuals with eating disorders sometimes seem to have a superhuman ability to stick to goals even when they are no longer appropriate. For example, exercising every day even when sick or injured, or cutting back on portions until they are way too small. It’s tempting to envy someone who has so much will power but that person is actually in need of professional help to turn things around,” says Jessica.
Jessica has two keynotes, You Are WHY You Eat and Making Food Your Friend Again, that are great for any campus concerned with students eating and living well. Both keynotes are appropriate for health and wellness awareness events, mental health and eating disorders education, new student orientation, women’s centers and studies programming, fraternity and sorority life, athletics and student leadership development.
Check out campuspeak.com/setnick to learn more about Jessica, her available keynotes and how she can empower your students to better-fit smart nutrition into their busy college lives.
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