Make This Year Count!

Horizons in Hemophilia, January 2011

Shannon Veronesi, MEd, Health Educator

As we embark on another year filled with suggestions for ways we should live, it can be tough to keep perspective.  Our daily lives are inundated with messages that tell us products that are fat free, zero  calories, sugar free, salt free (dare I say taste free?) are better for us to consume, use as a lotion, put in our hair or swallow as a pill.  That is a lot to digest.  But, where is the perspective?  Where is the human factor when it comes to finding what is best to live a happy healthy life?

As a Health Educator, it is my job to sift through the messages that create health hype and nutrition fads.  Over the years we have all seen the “next big thing” that is the answer to our health woes.  Too often we are missing the most important message.  YOU!  Where do you fit in all of these messages?  So, before setting those New Year resolutions take a minute to figure out what is most important to you.

1. Be realistic by setting achievable goals. Winning the lottery, for example, would be fantastic, but not really realistic. 
   
2. Describe your resolutions in specific terms. Instead of "I don't want to be lazy," opt for "I want to exercise regularly" or "I will cut down on my television watching."
   
3. Break down large goals into smaller ones. For instance, commit to losing weight by resolving to join a gym and improving your eating habits.
   
4. Find alternatives to a behavior that you want to change, and make this part of your resolution plan. So you want to quit smoking but you smoke to relax yourself? What other forms of relaxation are available to you?
   
5. Want to be bleeding disorder specific?  Start with something that is already established such as NHF’s Do the 5 campaign: https://www.hemophilia.org/NHFWeb/MainPgs/MainNHF.aspx?menuid=125&contentid=139
   
6. Above all, aim for things that are truly important to you; not what you think you ought to do or what others expect of you.

My grandfather always said that it was a good day when he was able to open his eyes the next morning and see the ceiling.  That seems pretty realistic to me.  Large or small, one or ten resolutions, it just does not matter.  What is important is putting you into the equation to help reach your goals.  Good luck!