Tokyo Weekender - January 2016
Looking back at the year that was. How to Stay True to Your Resolutions Snowboarding & Skiing in Honshu.
Looking back at the year that was. How to Stay True to Your Resolutions Snowboarding & Skiing in Honshu.
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y Michael Bobrove<br />
1. Be Honest<br />
What is the one thing you would like to achieve for yourself that<br />
has always been on the back burner? This should be what you<br />
WANT to do, not what you think you SHOULD be doing. Take<br />
some time to consider what this is, and do not be tempted to<br />
make impulsive resolutions over the New Year’s toast. Be honest<br />
about what truly motivates and excites you.<br />
Committing to lose a lot of weight only through a heavily<br />
restrictive diet is simply unrealistic, especially if you are<br />
passionate about good food. Perhaps changing every third<br />
meal to a delicious low-carb or vegetarian one will keep you on<br />
track—without missing out on a culinary experience. Likewise,<br />
promising to run on the treadmill several times a week is not<br />
sustainable if you find it boring! Alternatives include social exercises<br />
like CrossFit or Zumba, which offer more variety to keep<br />
you interested.<br />
In addition to listing your goals, you may want to include<br />
what can stand in your way. For example, if you are not an early<br />
riser, avoid resolving to run before work. Instead, consider finding<br />
a running partner in the office, who might like to do it over<br />
lunch or at the end of the workday.<br />
2. Keep That List Short<br />
Instead of an overly ambitious list of 12 resolutions, why not keep<br />
it to three or even one that you would like to achieve next year?<br />
Being successful at a few commitments gives you greater confidence<br />
to achieve more, and truly focus on doing them well. After<br />
all, more goals may be added if resources allow!<br />
3. Don’t Go It Alone<br />
You don’t have to do it all on your own to make it happen. Try<br />
sharing your New Year’s resolutions with your co-workers or<br />
closest friends. It has been found that people are more accountable<br />
to their goals when they involve their community. If you’re<br />
looking to get fit next year, a personal trainer can help you get<br />
started and stay motivated.<br />
4. Plan To Make It Happen<br />
Do not be tempted to sign up for the first gym you set your eyes<br />
on. Go for a tour and find out if the gym offers classes you enjoy<br />
and are aligned with your fitness goals. If you’ve got a specific<br />
fitness goal, doing concrete research and consulting experienced<br />
people can help you find out more about how to make it happen.<br />
For example, participating in a marathon involves more than<br />
just a lot of running. Talking to seasoned runners can reveal that<br />
while training is important, physiotherapy support is equally<br />
important for adequate body recovery, and better conditioning<br />
and performance leading up to that marathon day.<br />
5. Nobody’s Perfect<br />
It is just as important to be kind to yourself as it is to be accountable.<br />
Don’t get discouraged if you miss one yoga session; plan<br />
instead to make it for the next one. Remember: a New Year’s<br />
resolution should be a long term goal. You have one year to make<br />
it and keep it. However, if your research reveals that your goal<br />
might not be achievable within the year, consider making it a<br />
two-year goal.<br />
6. Reward Yourself<br />
Above all, don’t lose sight of the big picture—resolutions are<br />
about improving your general well-being and savoring what life<br />
has to offer. While you are making that list, be sure to throw in a<br />
commitment to treating yourself from time to time. That may well<br />
come with trying something new like a Thai massage, disconnecting<br />
yourself electronically from the rest of the world with a spa<br />
retreat, or simply rewarding your senses with a luxurious meal.<br />
Regardless of your resolutions, enjoy the year ahead!<br />
Michael Bobrove is CEO of Healthy<strong>Tokyo</strong>.com, your guide to<br />
Japan’s best health and wellness providers. They spend thousands<br />
of hours locating, visiting and screening high-quality, foreignerfriendly<br />
health and wellness facilities. Users get free access to<br />
their extensive network, useful info for healthy living in Japan, and<br />
special offers.<br />
JANUARY <strong>2016</strong> www.tokyoweekender.com