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Whether we’re in NYC to watch the ball drop in Time Square, attending a New Year’s Eve party with friends or simply enjoying a quiet night and turning in just after the stroke of midnight, 2019 is just around the corner. And this is the time of year when many of us make our annual resolutions.

Losing weight, stopping smoking, saving money, getting better organized and spending more time with friends and family are among the most popular goals people set as they usher in a new year.  But according to psychologist Robert Myers, Ph.D, who is on staff at Brand New Day, a Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan in 12 counties in California, while making resolutions can be healthy, how we set those goals is key to keeping our promises and, ultimately, making positive changes in our lives.

“Whether we want to lose weight, stop smoking or save money, we tend to make those commitments in absolute terms,” said Myers. “That puts an enormous amount of pressure on us and when we fall short of realizing our objectives, many of us throw up our hands and simply quit.  It’s that all-too-common ‘all or nothing’ approach to making resolutions that oftentimes keep us from fulfilling them.”

Myers and the mental health staff at Brand New Day encourage members to consider the following:

·      MAKE ONLY ONE RESOLUTION — You increase your chances of success when you channel all of your energy into changing just one aspect of your behavior instead of trying to tackle too many goals.

·      SET REALISTIC RESOLUTIONS — The surest way to fall short of your goal is to make it unattainable. So set a goal that is realistic.  For instance, instead of foregoing smoking entirely, reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke by half or instead of committing to losing 40 lbs by year’s end, pledge to reduce or cut out processed foods and soda from your diet.

·      BREAKDOWN YOUR GOAL INTO STEPS — Breakdown your goal into a series of steps that are concrete and measurable. This will make the journey less daunting and simpler to achieve.

·      TRACK YOUR PROGRESS — Keep a handwritten journal, computer spreadsheet or post your progress on social media to keep track of your success. Short-term goals are easier to keep and each small accomplishment will help keep you motivated.

·      LET YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY KNOW— Don’t keep your resolution a secret. Instead, announce it to family and friends and ask them to help you keep motivated.   Doing so will make you more reluctant to abandon your goal.

·      REWARD YOURSELF — Treat yourself to small rewards as you move toward attaining your goal.  If you have stopped drinking for 30 days, for instance, enjoy a day at the spa or splurge on a nice dinner.   Obviously, make sure the reward doesn’t contradict your resolution.

·      DON’T GIVE UP — Don’t give up your self-improvement plan because you suffer a setback.  Instead, treat any “failure" as temporary and take one day at a time.

“It takes approximately 21 days for a lifestyle change to become habit and six months for it to become a permanent part of your life,” said Myers.  “So embrace your New Year’s resolution with persistence, patience and optimism.”

Some of Brand New Day plans are available without premiums or copayments for primary care doctor visits.  For qualifying members, it covers transportation to and from medical appointments; vision, dental and acupuncture services; 24-hour/day nurse and physician line; and health and life coaches.  In addition, Brand New Day offers the Embrace Plan for those with heart disease, hypertension and/or diabetes, Bridges for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients and Harmony for those disabled by mental illness including major depression, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder and paranoid disorder.

Those with chronic illnesses are not only treated medically, but in a variety of other ways including:
·      Education about the member’s chronic or ongoing medical conditions and avoidable risks
·      Nutrition
·      Exercise
·      Self-testing and monitoring
·      Medication adherence to doctor orders
·      Preventive care planning
·      Linkage to community support programs

Brand New Day is the Medicare product name of Universal Care, Inc., a privately held California Knox-Keene Healthcare Service Plan licensed by the California Department of Managed Health Care and contracted with the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services as a Medicare Advantage contractor.  Universal Care, Inc. is owned and operated by an experienced group of managed care executives and physicians. Universal Care, Inc. was founded in 1983. For more information, visit BNDHMO.com