Just a few days in to 2010, some North Texans have already kicked their New Year's resolutions to the curb while others are vowing that this will be the year they make some changes and meet their goals.
Christina De La Garza has one goal -- to run a half-marathon by the end of 2010. Forty-five minutes into that resolution, she was still hoping for the best.
"I am not at all a runner and it's kind of something that I’ve always wanted to start doing. So, I figured 2010 was a good year to start," De La Garza said. "It takes a lot of endurance and motivation that I don't know if I have or not, but I guess I’ll find out."
Josh Hepola was taking it to the extreme -- for the 21 time. Hepola spent about an hour and a half on the Katy Trail trying to shed a few extra pounds and improve his overall health -- a goal he said he's attempted unsuccessfully for the past 21 years.
“This year's going to be different, I think," Hepola said.
So, how can Hepola make this year be different? A couple of sources on the Internet seem to have some good suggestions: First, experts say the trick to keeping your resolutions is to choose a goal that is attainable and that isn't too lofty. You may want to run a marathon, but if you've never tried distance running maybe your first goal should be a 5K or 10K race.
Second, make the resolution something you want to accomplish and not something someone else wants to see you accomplish. If it's something you really want, you're much more likely to succeed. Third, if you are trying to be more healthy or if you're restructuring how you spend money to pay off a lot of debt, realize that lifestyle changes take a lot of time and effort and won't be realized in a few short weeks.
Fourth, find a friend to work with you on realizing your goal. Accountability to others is a great motivator and can really help you get things done. Finally, know that it's OK to fail. If you fall off the wagon, don't beat yourself up about it ... just get back on the wagon.
Here's to keeping hope alive.
Online resources:
ehow: How to Keep a New Year's Resolution
LiveScience: 5 Tips for Keeping New Year's Resolutions
NBCDFW's Frank Heinz contributed to this report.
