By Adam Donnelly

Sticking to your resolutions in 2017

Dec 30, 2016 | 3:56 PM

KAMLOOPS — With a new year, comes New Years resolutions; conscious efforts to make positive changes in one’s life. Sometimes, life can get in the way of those changes, so we here at CFJC News decided to try and find out how to make those resolutions stick, as we head into 2017.

With a new year lurking around the corner, you’ve likely been thinking about making some changes come 2017. Maybe you want to quit smoking; or, save some money and take the family on a trip. Maybe it’s time to drop those extra pounds you packed on during the holidays.

“We call it the January rush,” Ashley Kotai of the John Tod Centre Y says, with a smile.

Most of us could benefit from more frequent physical activity in our lives, but Kotai says it’s important to set realistic goals when embracing those fitness resolutions.

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“If you have a goal of losing 50lbs, or running a marathon, take it and break it into little pieces,” Kotai recommends, adding “those are a lot more attainable.”

Quitting smoking is another classic New Years promise we make to ourselves, but it’s not easy to simply ditch the darts

“Quitting… is so tough because we sell it in cornerstones,” Jeff Conners of Interior Health says. “we don’t sell any other drug [like that], especially one that kills 80% of all addicted people.”

While some smokers try to quit cold turkey, there are plenty of resources out there to help you manage your nicotine withdrawals.

“Just go to your local pharmacy, and they can hook you up with nicotine replacement, and that helps with management of wicrawal symptoms,” Conners says.

Along with the health benefits, there are also financial reasons to scrap the smokes. To the tune of $300 per month. So what could you do with all that money?

According to Rod Rieu, Vice President of Wealth and Relationship Services at Interior Savings, many people either pay off debt or save up for a special vacation.

Just like any goal, holding yourself accountable is important when you’re trying to save money.

“When you get your paycheque de[posited into your back account… open up a [separate] account, specific tho that goal, and have the money transferred automatically every time you get paid,” Rieu recommends. “You don’t have to think about it, it just gets done for you. That’s the best way to remain accountable.”

Of course, the support of others is an important piece of the puzzle as well, so if you find yourself struggling to keep those resolutions, don’t be afraid to seek help in your quest to be healthier, wealthier, and wiser in 2017.