Wow! 2018 just sort of careened by, didn’t it? It seems like just last week we were planning our New Year’s parties and making resolutions. Now it’s time to do it again. For some of us that means making (and breaking) the same resolutions as last year. That can be a bit discouraging, but it can also be a call to action.
Let’s take a look at the whole idea of resolutions with fresh eyes. Why do we make them? Well, we all know we can improve ourselves. We look at a new year as a clean slate on which we can write our “new” selves. We can “fix” ourselves with just a tweak in the things we think will help – diet, exercise, more reading, less smoking, less alcohol – you name it. If we can just fix that, our lives would be great!
We almost look on it as if we were trying to fix an automobile. Replace the brake pads, the chain, the points, or the plugs, and it’ll work fine, right? We forget that we aren’t machines with mathematically calibrated parts. Our systems are not just physical entities. We have emotions and appetites that get in the way of our “perfect” behavior.
Suppose you decide you want to become more “fit”. Okay. Define “fit”. If you mean looking like somebody out of an ad for the gym, you may be setting an unrealistic goal. How about lowering the bar a bit? Set a goal of losing 20 pounds, and taking a twenty minute walk (or run, or bike ride) at least 5 days a week. That may be doable, and once you reach that goal, you’ll be inclined to add activities and disciplines that will improve your physique even more.
What if you want to stop smoking? Things aren’t going to go smoothly if all you plan to do is sit around saying to yourself, “I’m not going to smoke a cigarette! I’m not going to smoke a cigarette!” all day. Figure out what time of day you are most inclined to crave a cigarette. Have a list of activities to fill that time every day. It can be a hobby, a visit to a friend, a run in the park, or any of a whole plethora of other activities. The goal is to arrange your time in such a way that you’re too busy to even think about smoking. That’s how you break a habit. You replace it with another, more desirable habit.
A good way to improve your chances of success is to have a “buddy” system. Find a friend who can use help keeping a resolution, and encourage each other. Plan activities together. If you have a competitive nature, you can even make it sort of a race to see who “kicks” the habit the quickest.
One thing a lot of people do for a New Year’s resolution is plan a change in residence. Let us know if you’re interested in listing or buying a home in the York County area, and we’ll be ready to help. The Jim Powers Team of local Realtors® is here for you from start to end. Visit our website to learn more, then contact us or give us a call at 717- 417- 4111.
Happy New Year! Have a wonderful 2019!