Abolish Resolutions
2010-01-05 - by
It sounds un-American, but I’m adamantly opposed to New Year’s resolutions.
First of all, all the media stories are tiresome: How to start a new exercise routine – or a new life. How to lose 20 pounds. How to change your diet. How to run that ultra-marathon across the Sahara that you’ve always dreamed about.
Sometimes, the stories point out that few people keep their diet-and-fitness resolutions.
Do you know why?
Because it’s January, dummy.
It’s cold – this year, really cold. It’s the worst weather to get outside or go biking or start swimming.
That goes against all our body rhythms. For that matter, we’ve been going outside them since last month.
Animals know that December is time to hunker down, eat up, sleep more and get into winter-survival mode.
Not us. We spend December making lists, checking them twice, spending too much money, shopping, visiting, travelling and telling everybody to have a “merry” this and “happy” that.
Then we hit January – the coldest month of the year – and try to change our lives.
No wonder we fail.
Take my advice: Save your resolutions for a better time. Like March 14, when Daylight Time starts and you can get out in the evening. Or the first day of spring. Or April Fool’s Day.
Change is easier when you’re warm.
Posted in General
Abolish Resolutions
2010-01-05/
It sounds un-American, but I’m adamantly opposed to New Year’s resolutions.
First of all, all the media stories are tiresome: How to start a new exercise routine – or a new life. How to lose 20 pounds. How to change your diet. How to run that ultra-marathon across the Sahara that you’ve always dreamed about.
Sometimes, the stories point out that few people keep their diet-and-fitness resolutions.
Do you know why?
Because it’s January, dummy.
It’s cold – this year, really cold. It’s the worst weather to get outside or go biking or start swimming.
That goes against all our body rhythms. For that matter, we’ve been going outside them since last month.
Animals know that December is time to hunker down, eat up, sleep more and get into winter-survival mode.
Not us. We spend December making lists, checking them twice, spending too much money, shopping, visiting, travelling and telling everybody to have a “merry” this and “happy” that.
Then we hit January – the coldest month of the year – and try to change our lives.
No wonder we fail.
Take my advice: Save your resolutions for a better time. Like March 14, when Daylight Time starts and you can get out in the evening. Or the first day of spring. Or April Fool’s Day.
Change is easier when you’re warm.
Posted in General