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Small New Year's resolutions with BIG Payoffs

Each year millions of Americans make, and later abandon, their well-intentioned resolutions.


Content provided by: Amanda Oglesby*

In fact, of the 40% of Americans who resolve to change their ways at the beginning of each new year, only 9% report succeeding, according to the research group Statistic Brain Research Institute. Despite the statistics, experts say there is hope to making and keeping New Year resolutions.

Dr. Steinberg says that the trick for most people to achieve success is to moderate behavior, not radically change it. "I think people feel that they need to be perfect…(that) they can’t cheat at all," he said. In reality, it's small changes in the diet that can create large impacts.

This article from USA Today asked two medical experts (Steinberg & Dymyd) for their take on easy-to-keep New Year resolutions that have the biggest payoff, and here is what they said:

walk more.

“Going from nothing to walking a few times a week around the neighborhood, you will see a significant health benefit," Steinberg said. Just after dinner, go for a walk for 30 minutes. A half-hour of walking can burn between 120 and 222 calories, depending on a person's weight and speed, according to Harvard Medical School.

eating less.

"Thoughtfulness about food also helps someone decide whether they are hungry or merely thirsty — confusing the two can lead to a lot of unnecessary calories," Dymyd said. Unsure whether hunger or thirst is driving you to the fridge? Drink water. Wait 20 minutes and see if you're still hungry.

floss everyday.

Flossing prevents cavities, gum disease and bad breath. "Flossing is the easiest first line of defense. Bacteria in your mouth travels to other parts of your body," Dymyd said. It could affect anything. Flossing prevents the buildup of plaque, or a film of bacteria, in places tooth brushes cannot reach, and therefore helps to preserve tooth and gum health.

get more sleep.

"Having a good sleep routine is very important," Steinberg said. If someone has trouble falling asleep within 30 or 40 minutes of going to bed, they should get up and do a low-energy activity until they feel tired again, he said. What they should not do is keep the brain active, by using an iPad, laptop or cellphone while in bed.

While these New Year resolutions are small lifestyle changes, they can have a big impact on someone's overall health, experts said. No one likes change, but the more you talk about change, the more likely it is to occur.


READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

*Oglesby, A. (2017, December 31). Life hacks: Small New Year's resolutions with big payoffs. Retrieved January 2, 2018, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/12/31/life-hacks-small-new-years-resolutions-big-payoffs/993921001/