There’s plenty of us at the bakery who don’t do resolutions.  I’m not one of them.  As a matter of fact I am the exact opposite of that… I am a Resolution Geek.  I make them, I make spreadsheets to track progress on big ones, I set easy ones that I can achieve without much effort to keep me going, etc.

This blog post is for those of you like me.  Here’s some great tips from PsychCentral and The Huffington Post that I started applying last year and they really helped me stick with the resolutions I set:

Focus on the Internal
So many of us make superficial resolutions each year, and one of the reasons they don't stick is that they're just not heavy enough. This year, forget about losing those last ten pounds and make a resolution to make this your healthiest year yet, or instead of resolving to get a manicure every week, promise yourself that you'll do one thing every day that helps move your career forward. If you focus on the bigger and more important reasons for your resolution, you'll be constantly reminded of the importance of keeping it.

Create bite-sized portions
Break goals down to manageable chunks. This is perhaps the most essential ingredient for success, as the more planning you do now, the more likely you are to get there in the end. The planning process is when you build up that all-important willpower which you will undoubtedly need to fall back on along the way. Set clear, realistic goals such as losing 5 pounds, saving $30 a month, or going for a run once a week. Decide exactly how you will make this happen.

Leave Room to Wiggle
Quitting anything cold turkey can feel next to impossible, and the whole "all or nothing" attitude can be dangerous - one half of a brownie and your diet resolution is ruined, so why not eat the whole tray? Now, if we're talking about illicit drugs, cheating on your spouse, or something truly harmful like that, you should absolutely stop it completely, but otherwise you should leave yourself some wiggle room to make this whole resolution thing easier. If you're going on a diet, savor a small piece of chocolate each night, or if you're cutting back on drinking, relish a glass of wine with dinner. Keeping things in moderation will keep you on the wagon for much, much longer.

If you’ve got resolutions related to specifically to the way you eat and your health, we’ve got plenty of products that can help you get going on the right foot: 

Whole grains have been scientifically proven to keep you full longer, so breads like Honey Whole Wheat, High 5 Fiber, or Dakota are great ways to make the calories you take in keep you full longer. 

Real Foods, instead of “modified food-like substances” are another great way to make each bite both more flavorful and more wholesome which is why we make more and more of the food we offer you from scratch every year (like the addition of yet another from-scratch salad dressing) and bake our breads and sweets from scratch every single day.

Healthy substitutions are important which is why any sandwich or salad you order for lunch at our bakery can have any ingredient added, taken off, or switched with something else.

We hope the tips help you last longer with your resolutions (and help you make realistic ones!) and we’re always honored to be a part of what you eat!

As a little lagniappe, here’s a 22 resolutions via our friends at Pack & Paddle.  Bon Anée!