12 in 12

12 in 12 via Fitarella

For my Pinteractive post this week, I am choosing a Pin that I thought was one of the best pins I have found to help me get on track with my new years resolutions for 2012! I am the kind of person who makes a list of all the things I want to change on the first of the new year, but then after a few weeks, even after a few days, I lose track of my goals and fall back into the same old slump. I have great intentions but I think I overwhelm myself with how many goals I set and then fail in the execution.
 They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit.  But with the idea behind 12 in 12 they give you a whole month. 

It works like this:
Pick one thing to do consistently every day for a month. It can be something new you want to try, something you want to get better at or something you want to see if you can live without. Commit to doing this thing every day for that month no matter what, even when you don’t want to, even when it hurts, even when it sucks. The practice is the reward. Once the month is up, you’ll start your next thing. You may or may not want to continue the previous month’s practice longer if it’s working for you, however, you still need to introduce something new for the new month.
This is how it worked for me:

Day 1 of month1(January), I chose to give up soda. I thought if I did, it might help me to lose weight.  I was addicted to soda, so I felt if I took it out I would replace it with  healthier choices, mainly water. But then of course, I found myself drinking juice and lemonade for that sugar buzz. But I eventually got rid of those drinks and got back to drinking water.  I craved a big glass of Coke with crushed ice, but I never gave in because I knew I could accomplish this one task for one month.  When February came I decided I would go back to at least allowing myself to have a can of soda once in awhile, but not everyday like I was doing before.  When I did have that bottle of soda, it wasn't as fulfilling as I thought it was going to be. I haven't gone back to drinking soda since.
 New month2(February)  Day 1, I began a month of no candy, cake, or cookies. What was I thinking? February  the month of candy and cookies! Lil and I made special cookies for V-Day and one of my favorite candies ever are conversation hearts.  I have a big bowl of them in my house leftover from a Mommy and Me Book Club craft I did with my MOMS Club.

 I don't know why I keep them around. Is it because I like to inflict torture on myself?  I walk by them every day and when I am having one of THOSE days, I want to reach over into that bowl and grab one to pop into my mouth. How could one little candy hurt?  But then once again, I remind myself that I only have 8 more days and then I can have one. Hopefully, March will come and I can stick to the goal of no candy, cake, or cookies while beginning another resolution.  It doesn't have to always be weight related. Next month, I might begin trying to do some form of exercise for 15 minutes a day or cleaning up one of my many paper piles around my house.  Anyways, It's been working for me and I think it is a great way to keep your new years resolutions!