PLANTATION, FL--(Marketwired - December 29, 2014) - Cut the carbs, eat more veggies. Exercise more, stress less. Get organized, stick to a budget. We start every January 1 with such good intentions, but often fail to follow through -- only 8 percent of those who do make New Year's resolutions manage to keep their pledges.
That said, there are roughly 317 million adults in the US, about half of which make New Year's resolutions. Do the math: 12.7 million people did manage to keep their resolutions.
What did they do differently than the 304,300,000 folks who didn't carry through with their New Year strategies? :DentalPlans, the leading online marketplace of affordable dental savings plans, offers some tips for staying on track with your health goals in 2015:
Get inspired - Many websites offer inspiring stories from people that have met their health and fitness goals. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) page. "Inspiration for a Healthy Year," features pictures and stories to reinforce the idea that you can set and achieve significant goals.
Keep it simple and specific - Whether it's your resolutions or daily to-dos, a long list of goals is overwhelming, not inspiring. Make no more than three resolutions -- just one is fine! -- and then break them down into actionable steps. For example "I want a beautiful smile again. So I'll make an appointment with my dentist during the first week of January, to get a treatment plan that I will follow," is far more attainable than the vague "I really need to do something about my teeth."
Explore your options - If you've delayed getting essential health services such as dental care due to financial concerns, a little research can reveal ways to make getting the care you need more affordable. For oral health issues, you can investigate dental training schools, local clinics, and dentists who offer sliding scale rates. And having a dental savings plan can reduce typical dental care rates by 10-to-60 percent.
Track and share your goals - It takes about three weeks to establish a new habit. Track your health goals on your shiny, new 2015 calendar. Put a star on the 22nd day to let you know that the hardest part is now behind you. Also consider publicly sharing your goals with family, friends -- perhaps on your blog or in your social networks. Ask for their support in staying on track.
Here's to a happy, healthy new you!
About :DentalPlans
:DentalPlans, founded in 1999, is the largest dental savings plan marketplace in the U.S., offering consumers access to 40+ dental savings plans from trusted healthcare brands, like Aetna, Careington, Signature Wellness, and UNI-CARE. Plan members have access to more than 100,000 dentists nationwide.
:DentalPlans, which has been included in the INC. 5000 list for three years standing, is committed to making you smile by making access to quality oral healthcare affordable and available to everyone. Visit us at www.dentalplans.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dentalplans.