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New Year's Resolutions and Health
By Sandra Sokol
Posted: 2021-12-05T16:19:00Z

Another valuable article from Jay M. Pomerantz, MD.
As we approach the end of 2021, a year memorable in many ways, we may be thinking about a better 2022 and pondering on our own New Year's Resolutions. Learn about implementing  " self-contracting" to improve your chances of success with your resolutions.

New Year’s Resolutions and Health

 

I would like to suggest some possible New Year’s Resolutions regarding health and an action plan.  For example, for those of you who still smoke, January 1st is a good time to stop.  The public advertising campaigns are correct about the enormous risk of heart disease, bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, lung cancer, and even COVID-19 associated with smoking.  Incidentally, it is far easier to stop completely than to slow down.  Slowing down is a way of fooling oneself---a justification for doing the wrong thing (e.g., smoking) while trying to maintain self esteem. For people who drink too much or take illegal drugs, the same logic applies.


Obesity, or being overweight, is another health problem.  This condition increases the likelihood of high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, arthritis, sleep apnea, and some cancers (e.g., breast, uterus, prostate, and colon).   Obviously, food is a necessary item for all of us, so the new year’s resolution must not be to stop eating, but instead to eat properly and exercise routinely.


Most of the above everyone already knows.  The issue is how to do the right thing.  I suggest a method which I call “self-contracting.” New Year’s Resolutions are an example of “self-contracting.”  What one does is to make a self-promise, not necessarily in writing, that has a contractual format.  Like all contracts (and this is the important point!), there are penalties involved with not keeping to the terms of the contract.  I will provide an example.  Years ago, to get myself to mow the lawn regularly (a task I did not like, especially by the time autumn arrived), I contracted with myself that the mowing needed to be done on Sundays before I could sit before the television and guiltlessly watch a professional football game.  The seriousness with which I personally take self-contracting is that one Sunday it started to rain just as I was set to mow, shortly before the 1pm kickoff.  I mowed in the rain and remembered the experience.  It was not pleasant, slow going, messy and required a shower and change of clothes.  Of course, I missed the first half of the football game!


On subsequent weekends, I gave myself more time to mow in order to avoid having to do it in the rain.    If one values self-esteem, one will abide by self-contracts.  One cannot fool oneself---there is always a witness!   If one adopts “self-contracting” and sticks with it, not only will bad habits come under control, but self-esteem will rise.  Even better than a specific New Year’s Resolution, I recommend “self-contracting” for the next year and beyond. More than any specific resolution it may change your life.


Jay M. Pomerantz, M.D.


 

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