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New Year's Resolutions

The new calendar year is always a good time to review the year and see how we can improve our lives and the lives of those around us. We offer here a few suggestions for New Year's Resolutions. If you have any great suggestions we haven't listed, please let us know.

Before Beginning: Tips for Success
Suggestions from Safer Child, Inc.
Suggestions from the American Academy of Pediatrics (reprinted with permission from the AAP)

Before beginning: Tips for Success

First, be specific. If you need to make a major change in your life, it helps to be specific. Goals such as wanting to "be happier," to "make more money," or to "have better relationships with my children" are great, but they don't give you a pathway to reaching them. Write your goals down, then write down in concrete terms exactly what it would take for you to reach each one. Keep getting more and more specific until you get to a point where you are able to do something. Do that something. Then gradually, as you are able, work your way back up to your goals. Keep your goals posted where you can see them, and mark (and celebrate!) your progress.

Second, don't overreach. If you make too many resolutions, if you make them too difficult, if they are impossible to achieve at this time, or if you are using them as a way to criticize yourself -- you are setting yourself up for failure. Choose the most important one first and concentrate on that. Keep your resolutions simple and achievable. For every resolution that removes something from your life, try to add something enjoyable (for example, if your goal is to quit smoking, then take up piano playing or ballroom dancing instead).

Third, plan ahead. 1) If you need to do something or learn something before beginning, then do it or learn it now! Don't start Day One by saying, "Oh, I don't have the food I need to start my diet," or "I have to go get some walking shoes first," or "I still have two cartons of cigarettes left." Start Day One ready to go, with everything you need. 2) Be prepared for those times when you don't feel like continuing, and plan for how you'll work your way through them. 3) Be prepared for the lull, when your initial enthusiasm gives way to the drudgery of just doing it, or to the dangerous feeling that you don't have to work at it anymore. Figure out how you'll work your way through the lull. Some people like to celebrate their victories -- we support that, but plan your celebrations so they don't end up returning you to old habits.

Fourth, make it official. Some people find it helpful to write themselves a contract, keep a journal, take before and after pictures, make a pact with friends or family members, write a book or article about it, or put notes around their home or workplace. If you think any of this would help you, then we support you.

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Suggestions from Safer Child, Inc.

	Reacquaint yourself with your spouse and your children. Spend more time with them -- talking, laughing, reading books, listening. Treat them as well as you possibly can (as well as or better than you treat your friends). Show more appreciation to them. (see our Communication pages for more).
	Share yourself with your spouse and children. Tell your loved ones every day how much you love them, how important they are to you, and how glad you are that they're in your life.
	Choose one major thing about yourself or your life that you want to improve, and then commit to improving it.
	If you smoke, quit smoking. (see our Substance Abuse pages for more)
	Take control of the family's eating habits (see a nutritionist for help, or buy a book on nutrition, if needed). (see our Diet & Nutrition pages for more). Take daily vitamins. Cook more often from scratch. Eat out less often. Eat together as a family. Insist on a variety of fruits and vegetables (for you, too!). Insist on good manners. Eat by candlelight. Enjoy yourself!
	Arrange for proper dental care. Everyone in the family should brush twice a day, floss daily, and get fluoride (depending on age, it can be in the water, in rinses, or in chewable supplements). Everyone should see a dentist twice a year for cleanings and checkups. (See our Oral Care pages for more.)
	Exercise at least 3 days per week (see a personal trainer, or buy a book on exercise, if needed). (see our Sports & Fitness pages for more).
	Listen to your body and trust what it tells you. Resolve to ignore what the scale says, what your pants say, what women's magazines say or what the mirror says. Instead, find out from books or a personal trainer how much exercise is enough exercise for your body and then start getting it. Find out from books or a nutritionist how much food and drink is appropriate food intake for your body and then start getting it. Listen when your body tells you it's full of food and doesn't need more. Trust your body to tell you what size it wants to be. (see our Thoughts on Dieting for More). If your body says it needs some help from the medical profession, go to the doctor.
	Make sure your children have the things they need in order to grow up happy and healthy (appropriate car seats, immunizations, physical check-ups, glasses, dental care, fluoride, love, support and attention, healthy diet, sufficient sleep, warm coat, well-fitting shoes, hat, sunscreen, environment free of alcohol, drugs or tobacco, quality education, daily exercise, interesting books to read, quality caregivers who love them) (see What All Young Adults Should Know and also What Makes for A Great Parent for more).
	Get a complete physical check-up and find out from your health care provider which regular check-ups you should be having. Don't be afraid to ask the questions you need to ask. (See our Medical Competency and Accountability page for more)
	Learn to better manage your stress and your conflicts. Learn how to be as happy as you can be. Laugh more. Relax more. Take time to hang out with yourself. Be more patient. If you need counseling in order to be a happier person, a more loving spouse, or a better parent, then get it! It's OK to be happy. Remember this: If you don't know how to be happy, your children probably won't learn how to be happy either.
	Make sure everyone gets enough sleep. But first, find out from a reputable organization what constitutes enough sleep. (See our Sleep pages for more.)
	Drink less coffee and other caffeinated beverages. Drink less alcohol. Commit to drinking at least 64 oz. of water per day. (see our Dehydration page for more).
	Mend any "broken fences" with family and friends. Or, if a relationship is damaging to you or to someone you love and you are unable to fix it, then perhaps ending the relationship is the healthiest option. Commit to finding out more about your loved ones. Look into family history and find out where you came from.
	Volunteer your time in your community or with a world-wide organization. (see our Helping Your Community page for suggestions). If you don't have time, consider volunteering funds. If you don't have much of either, do the best you can.
	Choose this year to help pass laws benefiting children and families (such as booster-seat, car-seat or seat-belt laws, drunken driving laws, immunization laws, health care laws, or registered sex offender laws). Some of the nation's most important laws come from grass-roots efforts.
	Recycle your garbage.
	Read more. Learn something new. Take a class (by yourself, if you need to, or with your children or spouse, if you can). Go back to school and further your education. Show your children that you're never too old to learn, that learning is fun, and that you are thrilled when they teach you something!
	Empty your medicine cabinet of any old medications.
	Stop putting off that visit to the dentist and optometrist. Start flossing every day.
	Put your finances in order, pay off debt, check your credit history for errors, develop a budget and resolve to save and/or invest a portion of your monthly income. (see our Finance page for more).
	If drinking, gambling or illegal substances are a problem in your family, get help. (see our Substance Abuse pages for more).
	Find a new job or career that works better for you and your family, and/or that you enjoy more than the one you have now.
	Take a trip you've always wanted to take. See more of the country, visit national parks and monuments.
	If you're capable, willing and committed to taking care of a homeless child, look into foster care and/or adoption. (see our Foster Care page or Adoption page for more).
	If you're capable, willing and committed to taking care of a pet, adopt a pet from a shelter.
	Stop driving while using your cell phone, putting on makeup, or doing other distracting things. (see our Transportation pages for more). We know -- it's a pain to stop the car and THEN answer the phone. But someday, you might wish you had.
	Be kind. Make this the year you reach out to those in less-fortunate circumstances than you. You don't have to change the world -- even small gestures can make all the difference. Let the other guy go first, hold open a door, smile at someone, offer to shovel a walk, cook a meal or bake bread for someone, say "I'm proud of you" to a spouse, say "I'm so glad you're mine" to your child. If you can, let go of an old grudge.
	Make your family safer. Make this the year you invest in age-appropriate car seats, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, training for emergencies, personal safety training and awareness, water filters, eye exams, dental exams, medical exams, life vests, bicycle helmets, shin, elbow and face guards, plugs for wall sockets, health insurance, life insurance, wills, powers of attorney, and guardianship papers. If you have financial considerations, there are organizations that can help you with several of these items. Not sure where to go? Ask us, and we'll try to help.

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Suggestions from the American Academy of Pediatrics: (reprinted with permission from the AAP)

TIPS FOR A HEALTHIER NEW YEAR

The following are some New Year's tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Please feel free to excerpt these tips or use them in their entirety for any print or broadcast story with appropriate attribution of source.

Prevent violence by setting good examples

Hitting, slapping and spanking teaches children that it is acceptable to hit other people to solve problems. Non-physical forms of discipline work better in the long run. Remember that words can hurt too.

Make sure immunizations are up to date

Review your child's immunization record with your pediatrician. Make sure your child is current on recommended immunizations.

Provide your child with a tobacco-free environment

Indoor air pollution from tobacco increases ear infections, chest infections, and even Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. If you smoke, consider quitting. Remember, the most important predictor of whether your children will grow up to be smokers is whether you smoke. Make your home a smoke-free zone.

Read to your children every day

Start by the age of 6 months. Reading to children shows them the importance of communication and motivates them to become readers. It also provides a context to discuss issues and learn what is on your child's mind.

Practice "safety on wheels"

Make sure everyone in the car is buckled up for every ride, with children in the back seat in age-appropriate child safety seats. All bikers, skaters and skateboarders should wear helmets.

Do a "childproofing" survey of your home

A child's-eye view home survey should systematically go from room to room, removing all the "booby traps" that await the curious toddler or preschooler. Think of poisons, small objects, sharp edges, knives and firearms, and places to fall.

Monitor your children's "media"

Monitor what your children see and hear on television, in movies, and in music. Children are affected by what they see and hear, particularly in these times of violent images. Talk to your children about "content." If you feel that a movie or TV program is inappropriate, redirect your child to more suitable programming.

Help Kids Understand Tobacco, Alcohol, and the Media

Help your teenager understand the difference between the misleading messages in advertising and the truth about the dangers of using alcohol and tobacco products. Talk about ads with your child. Help your child understand the real messages being conveyed. Make sure the TV shows and movies your child watches do not glamorize the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs.

Pay attention to nutrition

Nutrition makes a big difference in how kids grow, develop and learn. Good nutrition is a matter of balance. Provide foods from several food groups at each meal. Emphasize foods that are less processed, such as whole grain breads and cereals and fresh fruits and vegetables. Review your child's diet with your pediatrician for suggestions.

Become more involved in your child's school and your child's education

Visit your child's school. Become active in the parent-teacher organization. Volunteer in the classroom or for special projects. Be available to help with homework. If your child's education is important to you, it will be important to him.

Make your children feel loved and important

Kids develop a sense of self-worth early in life. They get it from their parents. Listen to what your children have to say. Assure them that they are loved and safe. Celebrate their individuality, and tell them what makes them special and what you admire about them.

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