Dr. D’s January 2019 Update – New Year’s Resolutions
Happy New Year from the staff of the HealthTexas Medical Group – Holy Cross Clinic. New Year means New Year’s Resolutions!
In past January issues, I’ve addressed New Year’s resolutions that can help improve our physical health. While still important, I’d like to address overall life goals in this article. This past weekend, I took a couple of hours and worked through what I wanted my goals to be for 2019. One part dealt with physical goals—exercise 2-3 times per week and pay closer attention to my diet. The rest, the vast majority, involve the other areas of life: family & home, financial & career, spiritual & ethical, social & cultural, and mental & educational.
I would like to challenge you to consider creating goals for the year from among the above categories. Goals should be written from a positive perspective. Stating “I will exercise” works better than “I won’t sit on the couch all day.” A goal that states what you will do is more motivating than something you won’t do in 2019.
Be Specific
Specific New Year’s resolutions/goals are better than vague statements. A goal of walking three days a week will be better than “trying to walk more.” Zig Ziglar, the motivational speaker and writer, said, “If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” In the past, I’ve tried setting vague goals with little success. Of course, those goals were never reached and benefitted me little. So, be specific.
A goal that is too easy to reach, isn’t really a goal. The goal should involve some work. In my exercise example, exercising once a month wouldn’t be much of a goal. By stating that I will exercise 2 to 3 times per week, I’ve set the bar high enough that I’ll have to work towards it.Yes, for those of you who haven’t set goals before, I suggest a goal that is attainable, but still requires some stretching to reach. Written goals provide something to refer to as the year progresses. These goals don’t need to be shared if you want to keep them private.
Focus on What’s Important to You
Within each category, you will find something that speaks louder to you than the rest. Focus on those areas where you feel led. Just because your doctor suggests that losing weight would be good to do in 2019 and that it can be done by eating a 1800 calorie diet, doesn’t mean that it is the most important goal for your life. It may be that repairing a relationship with someone, or with God, will improve your mood or reduce your stress enough that you will begin the year with a new outlook. Likewise, learning a new skill may be your path to an improved financial situation and achieve two goals at once.
Be intentional about this year. Set goals that will help you make 2019 a better year for you and your family. As always, the staff at the Holy Cross clinic are available to help our patients with their health related goals in 2019 and beyond. Happy New Year and good luck with your
New Year’s resolutions!
Michael Dominguez, MD, FAAFP is board certified in Family Medicine. His office is located at HealthTexas Medical Group, 590 N. General McMullen, 78228, phone: 210-249-0212.