Take a look at your to-do list. If you’re like most people, chances are you’ve got quite a few things on there, but the most discouraging one is probably “lose weight.”

Put your stress on the shelf and resolve to focus on you come January 1st. To help you out, here are some tips for building control through better habits:

Start small. Don’t drain your willpower early and lose control later. Instead of starting with a 1-hour workout right away, start with a 15-minute workout and achieve a small success first! Or instead of eating all veggies all day, add just one serving of fruit or vegetables to your day.

Grow little by little. Got that 15-minute workout down after a week? Then don’t jump to an hour – try 16 minutes the next day, then 18, then 20, 25, and so on. And add a serving of vegetables to another meal every few days. You’re basically growing your willpower!

Get back on the wagon. There are few people who can say they stayed on track the whole way. If you slip, think about how and why you lost control and hop back on the wagon. One slice of cake shouldn’t derail you – keep going!

Be patient. As with most things, building a habit isn’t going to happen overnight. Give yourself time to follow steps 1-3, and you’ll find your self-control growing stronger with time.

Take control, change your environment, and build better habits to train the part of your brain that’s linked to goals and control. It’ll help make you a success story, no matter what your goals are.

Des Moines Plastic Surgery™ wishes you a very Happy New Year!