If resolutions aren’t your thing, set a goal to commit to you in the New Year instead. The word “commitment” is often something we use to speak of committing to people and things, such as school, work, extracurricular activities, and relationships. However, the most important relationship you have is with yourself. As such, it’s time to explore the concept of self-commitment. Especially if you typically put everyone else’s needs above your own.

What Is Self-Commitment?

Whether you’re married, single, or it’s complicated, it makes no difference. It’s time to prioritize your wants and needs. Self-commitment is more than mere goal setting, it’s a personalized process of reflection. What you don’t change, you choose—so, if you aren’t making the best choices for yourself mind, body, and spirit, it’s time to commit to self-respect and self-love.

This might include reflecting on and committing to the areas of your life below:

• Health
• Nutrition
• Values
• Beliefs
• Relationships
• Boundaries
• Mindset
• Mental health
• Personal dreams
• Career objectives
• And more!

How to Self-Commit?

The first step is clearly defining what you want. Not what you “should” do and not what others want you to do. If you already know precisely what you want, refine it. If you aren’t quite sure or your wants are vague, reflect on the areas below.

• Reflect on your daydreams. Some daydreams lean more toward fantastical, but many are aspirational—and you can make them happen! If you don’t daydream, consider how what you dream about at night may be trying to tell you. Or consider the dreams you once had and have given up on.
• Journal about what your ideal relationships, health, career, etc. look like. Journaling is effective because it takes you out of your head and lets your intuition flow. You may be surprised by what arises.
• Create a manual or digital magazine collage or vision board. This is ideal if you aren’t clear about what you want, as you’ll select images that intuitively resonate.  
• Consider what you complain about most or stress about most and how you can minimize or eliminate your complaints or stressors. It might feel impossible now, and major change may be required, but you can minimize (or eliminate) most.
• Ask a trusted loved one if they are comfortable having an honest conversation about where you may have areas of opportunity. We’re often blind to small (and not so small) areas we can improve.
  Now, let’s explore a process for self-commitment that helps you maintain or return to authenticity.  

#1 Define Your Commitment

Once you determine what you want, define what progress, success, or “finished” looks like. Some commitments will have a clear end date, such as completing an online course. Others are ongoing, such as improving your nutrition.

The more positive changes you want to make, the fewer changes you should tackle at a time. So, you may only begin with 1 or 2 commitments and build as each change becomes a habit.

#2 Be Disciplined

Commitment requires discipline, and discipline requires consistency. What discipline looks like depends on the type of commitment you’ve made to yourself. Start by committing 1 hour a day to you. It’s not much, but it can be truly transformative.

• For improved nutrition, you’ll need to have a meal plan for the week ahead. This includes what to buy or have delivered from the grocery store, what to order from meal kit programs, and what restaurants you’ll dine in this week. If you aren’t sure what to eat, a weekly meal plan from a nutritionist or medical weight loss program can improve health and accelerate weight loss.  
• For improved mental health, consider weekly talk therapy and stress and anxiety-relieving activities. This may include quality time with loved ones, massage, spending time in nature, and getting adequate sleep. If time is hard to come by, you may need to remove existing obligations from your schedule and say no to requests that arise. Otherwise, you won’t have the time required for meaningful self-commitment.
• For weight loss, nutrition and exercise are key, but they’re not the only things to prioritize. The quality of both the foods you eat, and your workouts matter. For weight loss (and minimized muscle mass loss when taking weight loss medications) strength training is essential. Strength training boosts metabolism to burn more calories and builds and maintains muscles. Further support your metabolism with weekly GLP-1.
• For career objectives, you’ll need to determine what you need to do next. If you want to stay in the same field but find a new employer, update your resume and begin exploring new employment options. If you want a promotion, let your desires be known, and inquire about what you need to do to be considered. Maybe even hire a career coach or headhunter. If you want to explore a new career path, you may need to take online courses or return to school.

#3 Find An Accountability Partner

Learning how to commit to yourself isn’t something you must go alone. Find an accountability partner who will cheer you on and keep you in check. In most cases, you should look beyond your current circle. Some of the top accountability partners to consider are below.

Specialized Health and Wellness Practitioners

This includes everyone from your physician to your therapist, medical weight loss center, aesthetic injector, personal trainer, or condition-specific physician. Think beyond your annual physicals and exams, to ways you can tailor your health and wellness routine.  

Qualified Mentors

One of the biggest challenges with self-commitment is the mistakes you make along the way. Qualified mentors make achieving what you’ve committed to easier on a variety of fronts. They have often been where you are and can help you to avoid common pitfalls. At the very least, they can provide you with proven tools, resources, and strategies.

Workout and Wellness Partners

Workout partners are people you take fitness classes with or with whom you engage in other physical activities. This includes joining an adult athletics team. Wellness partners might be friends or family members you attend wellness retreats, wellness events, and wellness activities with—such as your monthly massage.  

#4 Be Resilient

Even with a clear intention and vision of what success looks like, the path is rarely a straight line. Unexpected changes and challenges will arise, and we all have bad days, weeks, and months. Whatever arises along the way, don’t give up on you!

You can develop your resilience by:

• Starting Again Tomorrow: Whether it’s an off day or off week, accept that it’s passed and pick up where you left off. The more you beat yourself up, the harder it will be to get back going.
• Reflect: Trial and error are simply part of the process. Instead of beating yourself up when a setback arises, reflect on what you’ve learned. This might be what you could have done better, where more help is required, or the fact that the issue is out of your control. You’re sure to have at least a few takeaways that will help you grow or better strategize moving forward.
• Practice Gratitude: Whether you’re on track, or off-track, identify what you’re grateful for. It’s often easier to focus on what we got wrong, what we could do better, or all that’s left to be done that we forget to be grateful. This includes practicing gratitude in your area of self-commitment and in all areas of your life.
• Manage Your Stress: Stress can create a negative ripple effect in all areas of health and wellness. This includes interfering with the commitment you’ve made to yourself. So, identify what your stress triggers are and take a proactive and reactive approach.

#5 Reward Yourself

You aren’t alone if you forget to take the time to celebrate your achievements. We aren’t only referring to your completed goals, but the mini milestones along the way. How you reward yourself is up to you. As long as it’s something meaningful, it will help you stay motivated.

You can even map out your rewards, so you always have something to look forward to.

How Can We Help You Commit to Your Health and Wellness?

Valley Medical Weight Loss and Med Spa can help you commit to your health and wellness in a variety of ways. From personalized supplementation to proactive winter immunity, medical weight loss programs (with or without GLP-1), bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for women and men, and more.

In terms of aesthetics that help you look as confident as you feel, and boost your confidence, we offer premium fillers, non-surgical anti-wrinkle treatments, hair loss treatments, hyperpigmentation treatments to fade acne scars and skin discoloration, and other means of rejuvenating your skin from head to toe.

For your convenience, we have locations in Phoenix, Tempe, and Glendale. Schedule your free consultation today!