Health Lifestyle
Resolution boosters
Few people can truly say they’ve stuck to each and every one of their New Year resolutions in the past. But there are things you can do to make success more likely…
• Tell your friends, family and work colleagues about your resolutions and your goals – don’t keep them a secret.
• You may find it easier to focus on your goals if they are quite specific – for instance, instead of saying you're going to lose weight, be precise about how much weight you want to lose.
• Change the way you do things this year if past attempts haven’t been successful. If you tried to stop smoking last year by going cold turkey, this year ask your local pharmacist for help.
•Write down the reasons why you want to achieve your goals. Every time you're tempted to give up, read what you wrote.
• Everyone makes mistake, so if you have a setback, try to figure out what happened and plan how you can avoid doing the same thing again. Above all, don't give up if you do have a relapse, or all your good work will go to waste.
• If your goals are big ones, try breaking them down into chunks – set achievable targets in achievable timeframes, then go on to the next one.
• Give yourself a reward every time you reach a target. If you're trying to give up smoking, spend the money you’re saving by not buying cigarettes on treating yourself at the end of each month. Or put it towards a bigger goal, such as a family holiday.
• If your New Year’s resolutions fall by the wayside, start again in February. Or any time of the year. January is a difficult month at the best of times, so if things don't work out, just try again. There’s never a better time to improve your health and wellbeing than right now, whatever the date.
> Some Careway pharmacies also offer weight management services that could make a big difference to your goals – just ask your pharmacist to tell you about any help and support they can offer.
3. To drink less alcohol Drinking too much over the festive season is one reason many people decide to quit alcohol in the New Year. Indeed, the health benefits are many, including a reduced risk for throat and mouth cancer, stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure and liver disease.
How to stick with it Again, moderation is the key to success. So instead of saying you’re giving up alcohol for good, consider giving up for just one month by joining the Dry January campaign (
www.dryjanuary.org.uk). According to Alcohol Concern, the organiser of
Dry January, last year 79 percent of participants saved money, 62 percent had better sleep and more energy, and 49 percent lost weight. What’s not to like? Then in February, ease yourself gently back into
drinking moderately – aim to have no more than 14 units of alcohol each week and spread your drinking over three or more days if you regularly drink that much. Also try to have several drink- free days each week, especially if you want to continue cutting down.
10 All About health
How can your pharmacist help? If you need advice on drinking responsibly, your local Careway pharmacy is a great place to start. And if you do have the occasional slip-up and drink more than you should, it’s not the end of the world. Just drink a little less for a week or two (your pharmacist can also give you advice on dealing with hangover symptoms).
4. To give up smoking Tobacco contains nicotine, a highly addictive substance, which means smoking isn’t the easiest thing to give up. If you’ve tried quitting before without much success, don’t be put off trying again. After all, the health benefits are significant – besides adding years to your life, giving up smoking can reduce your risk of lung cancer and many other diseases. Plus you’ll have more energy, fresher breath, whiter teeth and younger-looking skin.
How to stick with it If you’ve tried giving up smoking before but haven’t been successful, it may be because you tried to do it on your own. According to NHS Smokefree you’re four times more likely to quit
for good if you get help. So ask your local Careway pharmacist for advice on using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products. Or if your pharmacy offers a Stop Smoking Service, sign yourself up, as the support you’ll receive can make a big difference. And remember, it doesn’t matter if this is your first or fifth attempt – the important thing is that you get there in the end. For more information about NRT and how your pharmacist can help you quit smoking, turn to p18 (How to beat nicotine cravings).
Your local Careway pharmacist can give you lots of help with these and other health resolutions. Find your nearest Careway pharmacy at
www.careway.co.uk/find-a-pharmacy.
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