Welcome back. I hope you got some rest and had some fun over the break.
Here we are in a new semester and a new year. What does the changing of the calendar mean to you? Is it an opportunity to take stock of your life? A time for resolve and change? Or simply a chance to party hard past midnight?
January is named after the god Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and endings, who is also seen as a guardian of doorways. Janus has two faces, one looking back and the other looking forward. Ancient Romans believed that when you passed through the doorway from one year to the next, Janus, a forgiving god, would help you shed old baggage and bless you for a better year ahead.
Many people see the beginning of the year as a time to make resolutions. These are usually of the self-improvement variety, aimed at making ourselves into perfect beings. We make up our minds to lose 30 pounds, run a marathon, quit our favorite vice and be free of poisonous thoughts, all by Feb. 1.
Sound familiar? As Mark Twain quipped, now is “the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.”
Twain’s cynicism is entertaining because it carries some truth.
Aiming impossibly high sets us up for a fall. Does that mean we shouldn’t try to make changes? No. It just means we need to be sensible about it. I know you need to make some changes if you’re going to be healthier. We all do.
If you are determined to make some lifestyle changes, more power to you. I’m your biggest fan and strongest supporter. But I recommend you start small and go slow. You didn’t get this heavy, this out of shape, or this dependent on caffeine, overnight; right? So don’t expect to reverse it overnight.
The most lasting change happens incrementally. Pick one thing to work on at a time, and set reasonable, attainable goals. Cut out dessert on weekends to start. Walk 10 minutes a day at the beginning. Switch one cup to decaf at a time. Hardly dramatic or glamorous, I know, but effective for most lifestyle changes.
Remember the old story of the tortoise and the hare? Slow and steady wins the race. Set yourself up for success, and eventually you’ll get there.
Notable exceptions might include smoking and drug use. Certain substances are easier to quit cold turkey. But for most big lifestyle changes, baby steps are best. If you want help, come see us at SHAC. Call (505) 277-3136 for an appointment.
Good luck and Happy New Year!
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_Dr. Peggy Spencer is a student-health physician. She is also the co-author of “50 ways to leave your 40s.” Email your questions directly to her at pspencer@unm.edu. All questions will be considered anonymous, and all questioners will remain anonymous.
This column has general health information and cannot replace a trip to a health provider._
