New Year’s Resolutions

Have you ever made a New Year’s Resolution? Did you honor your resolution?

Why are habits so difficult to change? Are there any tricks to help us succeed?

Retraining the brain for New Year?s: How to make sure you keep resolutions once and for all. Here is the punch line, read the article for the details!

Tips for retraining your brain

• Weed ‘bad’ triggers. If you’re trying to quit smoking this New Year’s, remove the ashtrays and cigarettes from your home and car. If you’re trying to eat less sugar, rid the pantry of sweets, even chocolate baking chips, if they’ll trigger you.
• Plant ‘good’ triggers. Put sugarless chewing gum in the places where your ashtrays used to be. Keep fresh fruit and vegetables in the refrigerator. Place a packed gym bag near your front door.
• Make proclamations. Tell people close to you about the changes you plan to make. Discuss your New Year’s resolutions with friends.
• Garner support. Line up a few friends or family members who will agree to cheer you on or just listen to you when you’re having a challenging day.
• Keep trying. Giving up a bad habit or developing a good one takes time and hard work. It’s common to have a few setbacks along the way. But if you stick with it, over time you’re likely to successfully retrain your brain.