University Experts Weigh in on 5 Common New Year's Resolutions

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We're a little over two weeks into 2020, and many of us are working to make physical, financial and emotional changes for the better. Too often, however, our momentum fades and we slip back into old habits. Lo Que Pasa reached out to some University of Arizona experts for advice on how to succeed with five of the most common New Year's resolutions.

Resolution No. 1: I'm going to start eating better!

Expert: Melanie Hingle, associate professor, Department of Nutritional Sciences

I'd like to invite you to adopt a new view of your nutrition and health goals, and how you'll achieve them in 2020. Here are some thoughts – each one supported by behavioral science – to get you started.

• First, don't consider Jan. 1 as the only time to make a change – it's an arbitrary date. Allow yourself to experience that January feeling at the first of the month, the week, or even first thing tomorrow. And the best part is that if changes you've made are not working out, you definitely don't have to wait until next January to change course.
• Second, it's important to recognize and explicitly acknowledge why your nutrition or health goal is important to you. I recommend that you say out loud, maybe even to another human, how your goal aligns with your personal values.
• Third, break down your goal into a series of measurable (and, super important here, achievable) changes that you can integrate into your daily life without disrupting too many other things. You can increase your likelihood of successful behavior change if you enlist support from family, friends or colleagues, pick a small action to begin with (for example, walk 10 more minutes each day) and make your new habit easy to do for at least the first week to allow it to form by context-dependent repetition.
• Fourth, acknowledge the outside influence of what you cannot (easily) change: your environment. Understanding how the environment influences your behavior is key to figuring out how to avoid death by office candy jar.
• Fifth, be kind to yourself. Change is tough, and it takes time and multiple tries before you figure out what works best for you.

Resolution No. 2: I'm going to be better with money, pay off my debt and start saving!

Experts: Noel Wilkinson, outreach instructional specialist, and Krystle Calles, program coordinator, Take Charge America Institute

Our best advice for any resolution centered around financial goals is to have a plan. Without an idea of how to get to the desired destination, we will never achieve our goals.

Tips for Saving Money

Say your resolution for this year is to save money. Well, that’s a desire – to be better at saving money each month. Instead, we need to set a specific and effective goal, one which addresses the following questions - “what, where, and how.”

• Establish specific goals on how much money you want to save (for example, $50 per month or $25 per paycheck); where you want to save it (likely a savings account); and how you are going to save it (for example, an automatic bank transfer from checking to savings).
• Include your savings goal in your monthly spending plan. The important thing is that you set this money aside first within that plan. Then, assign the rest of your monthly income to your various expenses.

Tips for Paying Off Debt

• List your debts in the order you plan to pay them off.
• Each month, find whatever extra money you can (after all of your other expenses) and direct it toward paying down debt. This money will be in addition to your minimum payments.
• The first month, pay the minimum payment plus the extra money you put together on the first debt. Pay the minimum payments on all other debts. Repeat the process until you pay off the first debt.
• Then, move every dollar that went to paying off the first debt and apply it to the second debt on your list. Keep repeating this process until you pay every loan, credit card or other form of debt.
• Set aside however much you can for an emergency, so you don't have to pay for it with a credit card or other loan.

Resolution No. 3: I'm going to exercise more and get into shape!

Expert: Dana Rhynard, assistant director of fitness and wellness, Campus Recreation

Oftentimes, we find ourselves setting lofty resolutions that are not practical or realistic. If behavior change is your ultimate goal, set yourself up for success by establishing SMART goals. Whether it's Jan. 1 or June 25, you are able to achieve attainable goals if you're realistic with yourself. Everyone has their own starting point, so remember to give yourself credit throughout the process. You will run into obstacles and road bumps along the way. Plan for these by determining how you will work past them and continue moving toward your worthwhile goals.

Now, take out a piece of paper and pen and establish your goals using the SMART approach:

S (specific) – What do you want to accomplish?

M (measurable) – How much? How many? How will you know when it is accomplished?

A (achievable) – How realistic is the goal? How can I accomplish this goal?

R (relevant) – Is it the right time? Is it realistic in the current environment?

T (time-bound) – When will you achieve this goal?

As a certified personal trainer and health coach, I would advise a novice to break down goals into achievable chunks: Begin with three days or 90 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity and one day of moderate-to-high-intensity muscle strengthening.

An example of a week program plan may look something like this*:

Sunday: Brisk walk 30 minutes

Monday: Recover

Tuesday: Elliptical 30 minutes

Wednesday: Full-body strength group fitness class

Thursday: Recover

Friday: Alternate jogging for 1 minute and walking for 2 minutes for a total of 30 minutes

Saturday: Recover

*This plan is not specific to any individual and should be catered to meet your goals and current fitness level. Please check with a physician prior to beginning any exercise program.

Resolution No. 4: I'm going to strike a healthier work-life balance!

Expert: Josephine Corder, director, Life & Work Connections

We don't need to sacrifice wellness to have a fulfilling work life. In 2020, why not take advantage of some easy on-campus opportunities to get into a healthy routine? Life & Work Connections offers several ongoing opportunities to get you started:

• Attend one of the new mini-health screening events hosted throughout the year.
• Attend monthly health checks to keep you up to speed on your health numbers.
• Invest in yourself and take a self-paced financial literacy course or sign up for a ReJuven8 Workshop.
• Learn about the webinars, meetups and other resources available to employees who are caring for children or adult/elder family members.

Resolution No. 5: In 2020, I'm going to be more mindful, present and self-aware.

Expert: Leslie Langbert, director, Center for Compassion Studies

Mindfulness helps us to deepen the experience of our lives and to act with the realization that our own well-being is inextricably connected to the well-being of all beings, and as such, each action we take has an impact on others as well as ourselves. By becoming more mindful, we shift from our mental tendency to be on autopilot, or the habit of missing much of what is in front of us by continually thinking toward what may happen next or what has already occurred. Here are some tips on how to become more mindful:

• Meditation provides a structure and a process to support the mind to develop concentration and a sustained focus, but it is important to have competent guidance. The Center for Compassion Studies offers Meditation Mondays each Monday at 5:45 p.m. at the Little Chapel of All Nations, 1401 E. First St.
• Any routine part of your day – for example, your morning shower – can be a great practice in mindfulness. Notice the sensation of the water and the scents of your shampoo and soap. When you notice your thoughts have been drawn anywhere outside of that moment and the shower, gently guide your mind back to your senses or your breathing.
• Let the practice and experience of being mindful be an exploration, not an activity you use to judge yourself or to hold expectations about. Being mindful is a journey, rather than a goal to achieve.

More information is available in this complete version of the advice provided by the University experts.