Have you made your new year’s resolutions? Surveys indicate that the vast majority of us make resolutions, but only 8% of us keep them. Furthermore, we break our resolutions by January 12 of every year. That’s a lot to take in. Not even two weeks into the new year, and more than 80% of us are of the mindset that we just don’t want to continue working towards whichever goals we have set for ourselves.

Why We Don’t Stick To Our Resolutions

There are many reasons why individuals don’t stick to their resolutions, some of which include:

  • Feeling unmotivated. It’s clutch to have a partner to aid in your goals, whether that be a friend, family member, or an accountability coach. Going it alone is not fun for anyone.
  • Wrong perspective. We tend to get very hard on ourselves around this time of year, putting the pressure on now more than ever to change what it is we want to change about our lives. Sometimes it’s much better to think of it as an exciting time to make some updates and continue to keep a positive attitude throughout.
  • No plan. Goals don’t happen just because we want them to; having a well-crafted plan for execution bolsters your confidence and ability in meeting the goal.

Creating SMART Goals For Resolutions

Have you ever heard of a S.M.A.R.T goal? It’s recommended that the goals you place for yourself (and others, it should be mentioned) be goals that fit into this acronym. Let’s break it down:

  • Specific — simple, sensible, significant
  • Measurable — meaningful, motivating
  • Achievable — agreed, attainable
  • Relevant — reasonable, realistic, results-based
  • Time-bound — time-based, timely, time-sensitive

Making goals that fall into these criteria will make them even more precise and reachable, and get you excited about the journey too!

Because Dr. Reza is all about motivating and encouraging his patients. We thought of sharing some Reza-lutions that you will find it easy to achieve. Remember that it’s always okay to form resolutions at any time; starting at the beginning of a new year certainly isn’t required.

Get Regular Adjustments For One Of Your Resolutions

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention visits to the chiropractor. According to a study to come out of Georgetown’s Health Policy Institute, 16 million adults experience chronic or persistent back pain that actually limits their daily activities. Additionally, nearly 65% of Americans report a recent episode of back pain. Of course, back pain accounts for the most common bodily pain across the board. Still, as you may already know from experience, pain isn’t limited to your back.

Think about the pain you’ve experienced in your neck, arms, legs, even fingers, or wrists. And pain isn’t just because you’re getting older, have a certain job, or carry a large bag around. Pain can come from car accidents, lasting effects from surgery, or any number of other situations you may find yourself in.

Getting regular adjustments will help decrease some of the pain you are experiencing so you can live a fuller life, more likely to get right back to the daily activities that you have found to be hard on yourself. Remember, too, that chiropractic care isn’t just for ongoing pain; regular adjustments will benefit your entire musculoskeletal system, aligning your body to improve balance and overall functionality. If you ever have any questions about what chiropractic care may be able to do for you, always feel free to call Dr. Reza directly at (406) 920-1807 to discuss your unique situation or submit an appointment request for an evaluation.

Back and Neck Pain Are Not The Only Reason To Seek An Adjustment

It’s a common misconception that you should only see a chiropractor if your back or neck hurts. There are a plethora of problems that people don’t know usually stem from the neck and spine. If you’re experiencing headaches or jaw problems, these commonly have related to an issue with your spine. Even shoulder problems usually correlate to issues in the neck. So if you’re doubting getting regular adjustments as a 2020 Reza-lution, please think twice. Also, as stated above, being in pain isn’t the only reason to visit a chiropractor. You can increase mobility and just feel all-around better physical function throughout your day. 

Drink More Water

If you start with regular adjustments, you’ll also want to increase your water consumption. Not only is water going to do a body good, but especially after a chiropractic appointment, water helps to flush toxins out of your body and return to a state of equilibrium.

If you struggle with drinking enough water, you may think that this is a pretty lofty goal (and you aren’t alone). Still, it’s completely achievable once you discover what works for you. Find a reusable water bottle that you love. Don’t worry if you like it solely for the aesthetics — if aesthetically-pleasing water bottles are your thing, go for it! Do you prefer straw or drinking straight from the bottle? Do you like to flavor your water with fresh fruit or just keep it plain? How big of a water bottle will you realistically carry around? Does it need to be insulated?

Ask yourself these questions, try out some options, and feel motivated!

Work Out

We know, we know — the majority of resolutions involve exercise. If more than 80% of us aren’t meeting our goals, then the exercise goal isn’t really being realized. The reasons can vary from person to person, but as we’ve mentioned, going it alone is a big reason for unmet goals.

Dr. Reza is a huge motivator, genuinely caring about the wellbeing of his patients and helping them to meet their goals. As a certified strength and conditioning specialist and with an adjunct physical therapy certificate, Dr. Ghassemi can build a workout plan that’ll actually work for your unique body. His comprehensive approach will keep you on track because he knows how to get the best personal training outcomes. Dr. Reza strives to create a variety of methods combining the latest research in fitness with his knowledge of anatomy and physiology.

Practice Good Posture

It’s true that some neck and back pain, plus residual pain, comes from incorrect posture. Good posture maintains the spine’s natural curves, thereby decreasing the likelihood of body pain and injury from a prolonged way of carrying yourself. Spinal misalignment can cause several issues that you are better off avoiding.

All it takes to realize this goal is to get in the practice of actively thinking of the way you are sitting, standing, walking, and sleeping, making adjustments over time. Don’t get discouraged if it’s not until mid-afternoon when you realize that you’ve probably been sitting with shoulders slumped for the entire day. Instead, know that posture changes can take a while, and it’s all about smaller adjustments to get to your end goal. Our blog post all about correcting posture wrongs is a great place to get started!

Contact Us!

And there you have it! Resolutions that you may have already made for yourself, but in a more approachable, results-based, plan-oriented digest. We know you can do it! If there is anything we can do for you here at Reza Chiropractic, give us a call at (406) 920-1807 or contact us online today!