Don’t Drop the Ball

Don’t Drop the Ball

Goodbye, 2013 Hello, 2014  ome traditions will never die ……Out with the old, in with the new, the countdown to midnight, the singing of Auld Lang Syne, the dropping of the famous Waterford crystal ball from atop of a flagpole at One Times Square in N.Y.C   ery December 31, no less than one million spectators converge upon Times Square to enjoy a complimentary fun night of entertainment along with the 2,000 pounds of confetti and fireworks.

The prevalence of the Times Square ball drop has also inspired similar “drops” at local New Year’s Eve celebratio in   Central Pennsylvan. It’s’s not the largest party of the year, but smaller celebration “drops” include a strawberry, a Hershey Kiss, a pickle, and a white rose, to name a few.

2014 brings another age-old tradition, making New Year’s resolutions  T  most common resolutions, according to the Harris poll, with apps that can help you reach your goal:

1. Lose weight – Nutrino: Enter your current and target weights and food preferences, and this app will build a personalized menu to bring you closer to your goal  (F ee with iOS, Android coming soon)
2. Improve Your Finances – Budget Boss:  Create a budget quickly and effortlessly – then watch your predicted savings grow with easy-to-do read graphs  ($ 99 with iOS)
3. Exercise—Human: Commit to moving at least 30 minutes daily with this simple app  It  ses location tracking to measure your activity and notify you when you’re done  (Fr e with iOS.) I will be downloading this one.
4. Get A New Job – Job Search:  Find open positions near you and submit applications from your phone  (Fr  with iOS and Android)
5.  Eat Healthier  – Fooducate: Scan grocery barcodes and get a nutrition grade from A to D with this award-winning app  (Free with iOS and Android)

Unfortunately, the statistics are against one trying to make a significant lifestyle change. Ninety percent of those who set New Year’s resolutions fail to achieve their goals.

According to the University of Scranton Journal of Clinical Psychology, studies show that most people will abandon that dream, vision, or desire before week three or four of the New Year. Why?  What happens?

Looking back is easy, but looking forward is a little more challenging, especially when one wants to make some changes. Change it up in 2014. Change what Job S ritu l Growth Financi l Aspirations Health/wellness?

It generally takes 30 – 40 days to change lifestyle behavior. Daniel All-Flavin, MD, psychiatrist, and addiction expert, explains the psychology behind difficulties keeping resolutions: “Truly bettering yourself is a lifestyle change, not a spur-of-the-moment type of decision.”

Lifestyle changes take time and require support. Once you’re ready to make a change, the difficult part is following through. So, do your research and make a plan that will prepare you for success. Careful planning means setting small goals and taking things one step at a time.

 Here are five tips from the American Psychological Association to help you make lasting, positive lifestyle and behavior changes:

Make a plan that will stick. Your plan is a map that will guide you on this journey of change. You can think of it as an adventure  When maki  your plan, be specific. Want to exercise more? Detail the  me of day when you can take walks and how long you’ll walk  Write everyt ng down, and ask yourself if you’re confident that these activities and goals are realistic  If not, start ith smaller steps  Post your plan r “vision board,” where you’ll often see it as a reminder.

Start small  After you’ve id tified realistic short-term and long-term goals, break down your goals into small, manageable steps that are specifically defined and can be measured  Is your long-ter  goal to lose 20 pounds within the next five months  A good weekly go  would be to lose one pound a week  If you would like o eat healthier, consider replacing dessert with a more nutritious option, like fruit or yogurt, as a goal for the week  At the end of the  ek, you’ll feel successful knowing you met your goal.

Change one behavior at a time. Unhealthy behaviors develop over time, so replacing them with healthy ones requires time. Many people run into problems when they try to change too much too fast. Focus on one goal orange at a time to improve your success. As new behaviors become a habit, try to add another goal that works toward the overall change you’re striving for.

Involve a buddy. Whether it be a friend, co-worker, or family member, someone else on your journey will keep you motivated and accountable. Perhaps it can be someone who will go to the gym with you or someone who is also trying to stop smoking. Talk about what you are doing. Consider joining a support group. Having someone to share your struggles and successes makes the work easier and the mission less intimidating.

Ask for support  Accepting help from those wh care about you and will listen strengthens your resilience and commitment  If you feel overwhelmed or un le to meet your goals, consider seeking help from a psychologist  Psychologists are uniquely tra ed to understand the connection between the mind and body and the factors that promote behavior change  Asking for help does;t mean a l etime of therapy, even just a few sessions can help you examine and set attainable goals or address the emotional issues that ma be getting in your way.

Making the changes you want takes time and commitment, but you can do it  Just remember that no one is per ct  You will have occasional lapses    kind to yourself  When you eat  brownie or skip the  m, don’t give up  Minor missteps on the road to your g als are normal and okay  Resolve to recover and get back on t ck.

When one gets to be a women of a certain age like myself, past roles fade, it’s an excellent time of re-invention, look for new opportunities, seek a fresh start, new beginnings, transform your life, set new visions, dreams and desires  I took my advice to stay relevant; th s year, I physically challenged myself with my first-ever Nike Half-Marathon, where I raised $2000.00 for Leukemia and Lymphoma  Another big moment from 2013 –  fulfi ling my desire to share health and fashion information with women in my age group via this blog- is an exciting combo, huh  These two events were included on my  12 vision board for 2013 √√

In my debut post for Age of Grace, I shared about my daughter’s vision/dream to live and work in fashion in New York City  I hope you had a chance to follow her  tory  Nearly one year later, my daughter, Ch nning, lives and works in New York City.
Channing’s vision board inspired me to do my board; adults have dreams, too  According to Christine Kane’s “The Com lete Guide to Vision Boards,” a vision board (sometimes called a Treasure Map or an Image Bank or Creativity Collage) is a poster board  You paste or collage images you’ve tor out from various magazines on a poster board  The images can be particular – as in my esire to start a blog  Or they can be images that evoke a feeli  – like a woman walking or running in a marathon.
I agree with what I learned about vision boards, “Vision boards put goals in your subconscious mind, where they steer your everyday choices toward making the vision happen.”  In addition to having a visual reminder of my goals with the vision board, I also incorporate S.M.A.R.T. goals:

• S – Specific Goals: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How?
• M – Measurable:  How will you know when you’re done?
• A – Attainable:  Is this realistic?
• R –  Relevant:  This is your big “why” – how your goal relates to and supports your ethics and the people you care about in your life.
• T – Time-Based:  You have to have time limits, or it’s not a goal; it’s just a to-do list that can go on forever

If this is your first introduction to S.M.A.R.T. Goals, you may find this planning guide from Wake Forest University helpful—download it free here.

I hope you find this information helpful and are inspired to create a vision board or utilize S.M.A.R.T. goals to set your short-term and long-term objectives for 2014  Don’t drop the “proverbial” ball this yea .

“A Goal Without A Plan Is Just…….A Wish”  Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Happy New Year!