Are You Ready for 2012? Inspiring Resolutions for the New Year

Those making New Year's resolutions would be well-advised to consider the root of the problem they are trying to resolve, according to a local life coach.

During the first three months of the year, those interested in changing their behavior call Farmington Hills resident Paula Kirsch, 55, more than any other time of the year.

"There’s this time between Christmas and New Year’s when the days are short, the nights are long, and people have time to think," said Kirsch, who has worked full-time as a life coach since 2008 with her company Energetic Living. "You’re looking at the last year and what they like and didn’t like and how to move forward."

They call her with the promises they have made to themselves — including becoming more financially-savvy, eating better, sleeping better, and reading more — as well as a lot of emotional baggage.

"We have it in our minds sometimes that change is difficult. We know what we want to be, but we especially know what we don't want to be. Instead, what I try to do is offer positive support and have people realize it's more about self-discovery than self-flagellation," she added.

Paths to self-improvement vary from person-to-person. West Bloomfield resident and certified hypnotherapist Walter Rosenblum also attempts to get to the root of a problem in order to help someone improve themselves, through hypnosis, and oftentimes, teaching clients how to hypnotize themselves in order to achieve that unique state of suggestibility.

"Say for example you're having difficulty going to sleep — people will attempt to remedy that with medication, for example, but it's a short-term fix. You won't get the full recuperative properties associated with sleep, whereas, with hypnosis, you can. The level of trance and relaxation that you're in … that in itself effectuates recuperative transformation," said Rosenblum, 63, of Associates and Hypnosis, LLC, in Farmington.

Rosenblum is scheduled to present at a event Jan. 21 at the Authentic Living Center in Troy, where, he said, that in addition to teaching hypnosis techniques to improve sleep habits, he will also offer advice to improve the subconscious difficulties which keep people from sleep.

"For example, you should only be using your bed for sleeping ... not even reading. You want your subconscious thinking that when you're in bed, it's time to sleep," he said.

Fitness coach Ryanne Moroschan of , Beaumont Health System's medically based fitness center in Rochester Hills, knows all about how to be successful in creating a healthier lifestyle.

“It's important that people make their healthy resolutions simple, specific and action-oriented, to help keep them on target," Moroschan said. "Make simple changes to your nutrition plan, such as a goal to replace two lattes per week with hot tea (which would create about a 500-calorie deficit each week).

“Or make a goal that that half of your dinner plate is vegetables. These two resolutions can help decrease total calories consumed each week and that makes a weight loss resolution easier.”

Moroschan said it's important to have resolutions that are reasonable and have less emphasis on the end result but more on the steps you will take to get there.

Other ideas to help set resolutions

• Schedule at least two appointments per week for structured exercise for eight weeks. “This is a realistic and time-based goal, and much like setting a doctor appointment or lunch date with a friend, set it on your smartphone or calendar so that you take that time for yourself. Setting it for eight weeks means there's an end-point and you can reassess after eight weeks if this resolution is working for you of if you'd like to change your plan.”

• Carry a "BPA-free" reusable water bottle with you throughout your day. "This healthy resolution is two-fold because it will help you reach your goal of drinking at least 64 ounces of water each day, but also is environmentally friendly because you're not buying disposable water bottles."

• Watch one less TV program each day until spring. "This resolution will be more likely to get you off the couch especially in the evenings, when we tend to veg out for hours on end. Find other activities and hobbies to fill that time instead, such as working out, a home repair project you've been wanting to tackle, or making snowmen in the yard with the kids."

Your neighbors' resolutions

"Brush up on my French and use the pedometer I bought two months ago." — Venus Abrahim, via Facebook

"Stop living at my parents. Start school again. Buy a new car myself for the first time." — Dion Degennero, via Facebook

"Better grooming habits." — Dylan Koblin, via Twitter (@Dylandroid)

“Pray with expectation.” — Pam Strauch, co-owner, Lolly Ella Jewelry

“Commit to taking a walk after lunch at least once a week.” — Dr. Jeffrey Frederick, podiatrist,NorthPointe Foot & Ankle in Berkley                   

“Recyle your Christmas tree and plant a new tree.” — Oakland County Parks and Recreation staff

• Self-serve Christmas Tree Recycling is available seven days a week from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. through Jan. 16 at 11 Oakland County Park locations. The trees are processed to make compost and wood chips that will be available to the public free of charge in 2012.  Free tree seedlings will be given to those who recycle their Christmas tree through the program. The seedlings will be available for pick-up in the spring. 

"Get organized. But being organized is an ongoing process, not a final destination. Take extra steps such as, for example, throw garbage away now rather than later, put papers (kids homework, kids art, bills, etc.) in appropriate spots as soon as you receive them. These are all small steps that are part of a big picture. Doing things now versus later saves time and money down the line.” — Andrea Wolf, NEAT (Need Everything Away and Tidy), Huntington Woods

“Set realistic goals so you don’t set yourself up for failure.” — Dr. Jennifer Bonde, owner of 

• Example: If your NYE resolution is to embark on an exercise program, Bonde suggests making small goals like committing to move your body for 20 minutes every day. Then you can work up from there.