"Above all, try something." -Franklin D. Roosevelt

Yep, it’s that time of year.  Everyone is feeling guilty from overindulging for the last 6 weeks or so and are resolving to make big changes in their diet and exercise routines.  I don’t have any hard statistics, but I bet a big majority of those changes go out the window on or about February 14th.  How can you make a resolution stick?  Let me suggest starting by watching this TED talk from Matt Cutts, a Google executive.

After watching this talk I got inspired to make some changes.  After all, what’s 30 days?  I can do anything for 30 days.  My first challenge was a biggie…the whole30 elimination diet.  This changed the way I ate and I’ve pretty much stuck with it as a template.  I did add a few things back in, some good, some not-so-good.  So a follow up 30 day challenge was no Diet Coke.  Done!  Subsequent challenges included practicing ukulele daily, straightening the bedroom before bed and cleaning up the bathroom after brushing my teeth.  The current one is 5 sit-ups, 5 push-ups, 5 lunges/leg and 5 squats every morning.  Easy and doable.

It takes 21 days to make (or break) a habit.  Why not commit to 12 mini-resolutions this year instead of one big one.  Make the resolution specific…instead of “I’m going to eat healthy!” perhaps your first month will be “purchase grass fed beef instead of industrial CAFO produced beef when I shop.”  Instead of “I’m going to work out one hour per day” you could try “I’m going to walk for 20 minutes daily at lunchtime.”  At the end of 2012 I’ll bet you look back with pride at some of the changes you’ve made in your life.

As for me, January will see me doing the whole30 diet once again, to get back into fine-tune.  I’d like to get that ukulele up to speed as well.  Who knows what else the new year will bring?