A Healthy New Year

New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s resolutions are a common tradition in today’s culture. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of a fresh new start with the celebration of a new year. If you are thinking of making 2019 a healthier year, there are a few ways you can better maintain your resolution throughout the year.

Tips to Keep Your New Year’s Resolution

• BE REALISTIC. Be sure that you set realistic goals. This is crucial because the body needs time to heal no matter what the situation, and by adding strain or stress to a body that is overworked can do much more harm in the long run.

• ACCEPT YOUR LIMITATIONS. Be aware of your limits. No matter the age, every single human being has limitations. Being aware of how much your body can handle is the safest way to ensure that you get the best results.

• PACE YOURSELF. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. This phrase applies to more than just a literal race. Understanding the difference between your short-term expectations and long-term expectations are important to keeping you on track, especially when you don’t feel or see the results you’re looking for.

• ACCOUNTABILITY. In many cases, having someone to be accountable to can help. Whether you have follow-up visits with a physical therapist or a friend, coworker, or neighbor that you can talk to about your progress, accountability is important to keeping on track. However, for others simply tracking your progress in a way that makes sense to you and shows your progress is a useful tool without needing to report to someone as frequently.

• STAY POSITIVE. Don’t compare your results to others! No two people are the same, so don’t be discouraged if you see your work out partner is making faster progress than you are. The key is to maintain a system that works for you. 

• ASK FOR HELP. If you aren’t sure about something, never force your body to do more than it can or should handle. Consulting a physical therapist, physician, or medical professional is the best way to see safer and stronger overall results.

• DO IT FOR YOU! It is important that you commit to a routine because you want to be happy and healthy. Setting a New Year’s resolution of any kind for someone else may be alright in the beginning, but you are more likely to lose interest or lack the motivation to commit if you don’t do it for yourself.

It’s important to know that it’s ok if you have to readjust your expectations or your goals to fit your needs. The most important part is committing to the end result, being healthier! Even just small changes can drastically improve your body’s ability to heal itself, to function at its best, and to prevent further damage from neglect or underuse.

Small Habits Become Long-Term Results

When it comes to maintaining your health and wellness, it can be difficult to make simple changes when you’re set in a daily routine. Getting into new, healthier habits is the best way to see long-term improvement in your pain condition or symptoms. Many medical professionals will say that a body in motion stays in motion because it’s true! For those suffering from pain and discomfort of conditions like Osteoarthritis know that it can be difficult to start moving. It may be difficult to start but it is part of any wellness regimen because it can help to strengthen the joints and other tissues.

“Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.” -Hippocrates