Healthy resolutions: Reflect, plan, focus, enjoy

New Year's Eve is a time to reflect on the changes you want to make. Whether you're kicking a bad habit or trying to pick up a good one, getting the courage to make a healthy change is the first step.

Making significant changes is hard. Habits are easy to fall back into because they provide a sense of comfort. The challenges, changes and stresses of the pandemic may have you hesitating on what resolutions to make for next year.

Before you give up on making your New Year's resolutions, consider these tips for a successful year:

• Take a minute to reflect.
  Planning a change in lifestyle and committing to those resolutions takes time and energy. Set aside time to sit down and reflect on the lifestyle you want and the one you're leading now. Is this a good time in your life to make a change? Can you dedicate time to planning and taking action?
• Have a solid plan.
  It's hard to hit the ground running when you don't know where you're running to. That's why it's important to create an achievable, solid plan before the new year is underway. A long-term goal of losing 40 pounds sounds great, but achieving that in a healthy manner takes planning and confidence.
• Keep your focus simple.
  As the saying goes, "Take it one step at a time." This also goes for losing weight. To lose one pound at a time you need to be patient, confident and stick to your plan. By focusing on small, simple goals, you eventually will achieve your long-term outcome of losing the weight you want and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
• Remember to enjoy your resolution.
  Following a diet plan and regularly working out may not sound fun, but feeling good after does. Make your exercising enjoyable by trying something you've never done before. Food can be fun, too. Venturing through cookbooks and exploring new, healthy meals may become a new hobby.

The finish line isn't far away. Keeping confidence and being patient are key factors to sticking with your resolution. So follow a plan and set goals, and you will soon be on your way to a healthier lifestyle in the new year.

Michael Rogge, M.D., is a Family Medicine physician in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.