New Years Resolution Challenge

I'll be the first to admit I'm not a fan of New Years resolutions. While they can be amazing for so many people, I am not one of them. For me personally it is like setting myself up for failure.

People make resolutions for a variety of reasons; lose weight, make healthier eating habits, save money, quit smoking, get a new job, and the list goes on and on.

The vast majority of New Years resolutions revolve around health. As they should. We live in a society where we are surrounded by unhealthy food options, and everything we could want at our fingertips without having to get off the sofa. I don't think I'm alone in thinking people genuinely want better health. It's the commitment that scares the dickens out of people. What if it's too difficult or I fail? These are common questions that go through our heads.

But what if we make small resolutions? Something that is easily attained and can make an impact & difference in our lives?

I was thinking about this recently and realized that all my hang ups about New Years resolutions were that I was making my resolutions way too lofty of a goal for myself. It was no wonder that I would never actually achieve them. I could have avoided the frustration and let down if I would have started much smaller. I'm definitely not saying that big giant goals aren't achievable. Just right now at this point in my life, I need to start small. And that's okay. I think those of us with health issues (such as asthma) tend to shy away from resolutions. We already have enough on our plate health wise that takes up so much of our time how could we possibly add another commitment?

I am going to challenge you. And I am going to challenge myself. We are in this together. I want to challenge you to set an "Asthma New Years resolution." I will leave it up to you to decide which resolution you want to make. I'll give a few ideas to help get you thinking but ultimately the choice is yours:

Update your asthma action plan

If you don't already have an asthma action plan, work with your doctor to create one that's tailored specifically for you. It will help prepare you for when your asthma is acting up so you will know exactly what steps to take and when to call your doctor. It takes the guess work out of it.

Eat a healthier diet

Eating healthy doesn't mean eating undesirable foods. Having a good balanced diet is super important for overall health. It's all about trial and error. Try different types of fruits & vegetables to find what you like. Low inflammatory foods are great and portion control is also essential.

Commit to regular exercise

This is the one that is probably making you squirm as you're reading this. Don't freak out. Make sure to start slow. Even if it is committing to going for a sow short walk a couple times a week that's great! Find an activity that you are able to do and even more important that it's one you enjoy doing.

Take your meds, every single day

We are human. Sometimes we forget. We take daily medications to help keep our asthma under control. I want to challenge you to be better at this. Set an alarm, leave a note by the front door or have an accountability person to remind you, whatever it takes.

Pay better attention to your body

I'll admit that I have a bad habit of ignoring my early asthma warning signs. I tend to think it's nothing and will go away. This will usually backfire on me. I should know better being a Respiratory Therapist. Track your peak flow. You might start to notice that your peak flow will drop even before you start having asthma symptoms. Try to avoid triggers and be prepared when you encounter them.

These are just a few Asthma resolutions. The choice is up to you. I would love to hear what else you come up with! Drop a comment below and let us know what your New Years Asthma resolution is! Here's to a healthy and happy 2017!