Most years my New Year’s resolutions focus on less eat less sugar, spend less money, watch less TV. Sound familiar? Then, when I slip up and indulge in dessert or buy a new dress, I feel like a failure. I beat myself up for wanting things that it’s normal to want! I’m definitely my own worst critic. How can I break this cycle of struggling to deprive myself then feeling guilty when, once again, this tactic doesn’t work? Well, I’ve mulled it over, and I think I may have found a solution. This year, instead of focusing on less, I’m going to focus on more.
You can make improvements to your life without focusing on depriving yourself. Instead of eat less sugar, I will eat more vegetables or cook more at home. Instead of spend less money, I will clean out my closet and donate more items. Instead of watch less TV, I will spend more time with family or go outside more. By adding more positive things to my life, the negatives will have to go to make room. My overall goals to improve my life remain the same, but with this new positive spin, I may be able to actually stick to my resolutions.
If you’ve kept up with the Pearls of Wisdom blog, you know by now that I am a cancer survivor. If you are a cancer survivor, here are some “more” resolutions that you may want to make in the New Year:
- Add more fresh fruits and veggies to your plate. Five servings of whole fruits and vegetables daily meets the minimum recommendations, but why not shoot for more? Just watch out for the sugar in fruit and sodium in canned veggies.
- Talk to your healthcare team more. All your questions and concerns are valid and deserve to be heard.
- Walk more. Exercise, even moderate exercise, can improve your health, mood, and help you manage treatment side effects.
- Get involved in the cancer community more. Join a support group. Participate in a walk or fundraising event. Sign up for a cancer retreat.
- Tell your caregiver “thank you” more. Our caregivers do so much for us. We need to let them know how much we appreciate them!
So, what do you want to do more of in 2016?
