Chicago residents are actively pursuing their New Year’s resolutions, with various strategies and expert advice emerging to help them maintain their commitments. As people across the city aim for personal growth, many are focusing on health, wellness, and positive mindset shifts.
Strategies for Success
For many, the journey of self-improvement begins with the challenge of consistency. Yuna Nordeen shares her approach to building good habits through a technique she calls “54321.” This method encourages individuals to count down from five to one, prompting them to take small steps toward their goals. “Whenever you don’t feel like doing something, just internally compound that number and make the small step so that eventually those small steps lead to a big step,” Nordeen explained. Motivated by her three-year-old son, she is determined to overcome fear and focus on being healthier and happier. Her personal history includes a diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which served as a wake-up call for her fitness journey.
Personal trainer John Cwiok emphasizes the importance of simply showing up. “People underestimate the power of just showing up,” he said. Cwiok advises individuals to adopt a long-term perspective, recognizing that achieving fitness goals is a marathon, not a sprint.
Other Chicagoans are setting intentions for the year ahead. Francesca Flores highlights the significance of finding enjoyable activities, such as dancing or playing pickleball, to enhance happiness. “It’s about finding more joy in the world,” she noted.
Maintaining Motivation
The commitment to personal well-being often requires ongoing care and attention. One resident, identified as Rob, emphasizes the importance of sustaining habits year after year. “Just keep doing what I’m doing. But breathe. You know, stretch. Focus on nutrition, kindness,” he shared.
Health and fitness coach Sandi Berger approaches resolutions differently. “I never make resolutions because I’m a fitness trainer and a health coach, and I live every day as if I’m living my resolutions,” she stated. Berger encourages individuals to start their journeys whenever they feel ready, whether on January 1 or any other day of the year. “Just get on that bandwagon and do it,” she advised.
To enhance accountability, many coaches recommend practical tools such as journaling, creating vision boards, or finding accountability partners. These strategies can significantly increase the likelihood of sticking to resolutions over time.
As Chicagoans step into the new year with determination, the combined efforts of community members and expert insights may pave the way for lasting change and personal fulfillment.
