Renewing New Year’s Resolutions: August is the Perfect Time

As the summer draws to a close and the kids head back to school, August presents a unique opportunity to revisit and recommit to the resolutions we set at the beginning of the year. With routines reestablished and the holiday season still a few months away, now is the ideal time to get back on track and reinforce those goals before we slip into the busyness of fall and winter. We are sharing tips to help you recommit to your 2024 resolutions and finish the year strong as well as actionable steps to accomplish the most commonly chosen health related new year’s resolutions.

The majority of new years goals are set around the same topics for most individuals. The top 5 most common new year’s goals include; weight loss, to eat healthier, spend more time with family and friends, save more money, and to exercise more. By the time we make it to the 2nd quarter of the year, many people are caught up in the day-to-day challenges and once summer hits, goals become a distant memory.

But if you’ve set a goal in one of these popular categories in 2024, and you’ve found yourself forgetting to achieve it or not prioritizing it, we have the tools to help you get back on track. The first step is to review and assess.

Review Your Goals

• Resolution in Progress: Take some time to reflect on the progress you’ve made so far. Celebrate your achievements, and acknowledge the challenges you’ve faced. Understanding what worked and what didn’t will provide valuable insights into how to move forward.
• Reevaluation Your Goals for 2024: Reevaluate your goals to ensure they are still relevant and attainable. It’s okay to adjust your resolutions based on your current circumstances. Setting realistic and specific goals can increase your chances of success.

Create an Action Plan for Your New Year’s Goals

Break Down Action Plan Into Smaller more manageable steps. Identify the most important tasks (provided below) that will have the biggest impact on your goals. Writing these steps down has shown to significantly improve an individual’s likeliness to achieve their goal, and telling someone about it, can increase your likelihood of success even further.

Create Routines That Create Positive Results
With the kids back in school and daily routines reestablished, it’s easier to incorporate new habits into your schedule. This is going to be one of the most important strategies as you’re now working with less time and impending holiday seasons. Setting a few consistent goals that you can stick to daily (including weekends and busy days) is more likely to be successful than lofty over achieving goals.

The Power of Accountability and Support
Accountability is a Key Component for Goal Setting. Share your goals with friends, family, or a support group. Having someone to check in with can provide accountability and encouragement. Seek support from a professional who can offer guidance and motivation. When it comes to your health goals, committing to a health coach or a functional medicine provider is an excellent way to set up the proper support systems to be successful.

Celebrate Your Milestones
Set specific milestones for your goals and celebrate when you achieve them. Recognizing your progress can boost your motivation and keep you focused on the bigger picture. A simple treat when you achieve a milestone can be incredibly rewarding and inspiring. These can be simple pleasures that make you feel motivated, they do not need to be extravagant and they should not be food related!

Resolutions: Recommitting to the most common health goals in 2024

Weight loss
Achieve 100 grams of protein daily – mostly animal based and well sourced. Think organic, grass fed, local meat, or wild caught low toxin fish like Salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, herring (SMASH acronym to help you remember!)
Walk or move your body for 20 minutes after each meal. This helps your body properly utilize glucose to improve your insulin sensitivity.
Incorporate a berberine supplement into your routine to improve insulin sensitivity, increase GLP1 and increase metabolic rate. Always check with your health care provider before adding a new supplement to your routine, but our favorite is berberine before each meal.

Exercise more

1. Incorporate 30 minutes of movement right when you wake in the morning. A 30 minute walk is not only excellent for your neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, but it’s a great way to get 5,000 steps in and start your day on the right track by moving your body. This helps your lymph system to work properly, improves circulation and detoxification, and increases your metabolism’s ability to work.
2. Lift heavy weights, efficiently. Strength training is an important part of longevity and optimal hormone health. It should be integrated into every good fitness plan. But it doesn’t need to eat up several hours of every day. Choose 2 days per week, and work with a skilled trainer who can ensure that you’re lifting properly and doing so efficiently to work toward your goals.
3. Engage in group activities that can improve your sense of community and reignite a sense of play. Whether it’s a rec league sports team or a group fitness class once per week, it’s important to have fun with your fitness routine.

Eat healthier

1. Set 1 day per week to meal plan and prep
2. Initiate a protein and fiber goal for each meal of the day. Ensuring adequate protein and fiber makes it much more difficult to indulge in junk food
3. Work with a functional medicine provider to understand the most ideal diet for your individual body’s needs. Everyone is different and there is an abundance of information with today’s technology. If you’re not careful, it can become all consuming and overwhelming. By having a comprehensive look at your labs and GI health, our providers can help you navigate the best diet specific to your health goals and give you the tools to achieve success!

Reignite Your Health Goals for a Strong Year-End Finish

Recommitting to your New Year’s resolutions in August can set you up for success as you move into the latter part of the year. By reflecting on your progress, creating a detailed action plan, leveraging the power of routine, finding accountability and support, and celebrating milestones, you can reinvigorate your commitment to your goals and finish the year strong. Remember, it’s never too late to start anew and work towards the life you envision for yourself. Let’s make the most of these remaining months and turn those resolutions into reality.

At Peak Health Institute, a functional medicine clinic located in Warrenville, IL we offer a variety of services to help get you back on track with your 2024 goals and ensure that you are finishing the year healthier than you started it. Our highly trained functional medicine providers can guide you through the dietary strategies, exercise recommendations, and weight loss support that you need in order to achieve your goals and improve your health.

Schedule an appointment: (630) 791-9335 or reach out online.

Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult with your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regimen or making changes to your treatment plan.