Before you set your New Year’s Resolutions, read this!

No matter how stubborn a habit you've developed, there are ways to break those negative patterns and keep healthy resolutions throughout the New Year. The trick is to keep everything in perspective.

Experts in psychology at University of Maryland Medical Center offer these tips to help you reach your goals in the New Year:

● View the glass half full. Focus on the positive, instead of dwelling in the negative. Think: a small raise in salary is better than no raise at all.

● Learn and grow from mistakes. If you fall short of your goals, ask yourself what kept you from achieving them and then try to make corrections.

● Set realistic, not absolute, resolutions. For example, instead of deciding not to yell at your kids when they fight, set a goal to yell less often.

● Chat it up. Tell someone you trust about your goals so they can offer support if necessary.

● Really want it. If you don't have strong, internal motivation within yourself, you won't be successful. Make your goal meaningful to you.

● Take baby steps. Set realistic goals that are attainable and then take small steps that are likely to be met with success toward those goals. For example, set a goal to lose 1 pound per week (not 10!) and enlist a support group to help.

● Hone in on spirituality. For example, if one of your goals is to get fit, you may also resolve to get outdoors more often and experience nature instead of going to the gym.


For more motivation on goal-setting, contact your GPNS Health Coach at www.mygpns.com.