Trouble Sticking To New Year's Resolutions?

If you are - don't worry. You're not alone. Even after one month, people can be giving up on their resolutions.

But keeping commitments is one of the things we believe here at Keene Medical, so here are some tips to help you along.

1. Don't try to Change Overnight:

Remember, you don't need to have accomplished your goal by the end of January, instead you should promote habits that get you closer to your goal every day.

2. Tell Others:

Having someone to keep you accountable can often serve as a reminder and a positive pressure to keep you on track. You might be able to get family members or friends to take the same commitments with you!

3. Write it Down:

Once you commit on paper, you've essentially written a contract with yourself and you have a better chance of taking your commitments to heart. Often the first steps are the hardest!

4. Keep Trying!

Sometimes it doesn't feel like it fits in your schedule, or maybe you haven't seen the results you were hoping for. But remember, you still have a whole year to make the change! Resolutions aren't supposed to be a commitment to be perfect for the whole year, just to be in a better place than you were at the start of last year.

Good luck to everyone and their resolutions, and wish me luck as I work on mine - Less procrastination!

As New Englanders, we're no strangers to snow. It's a fact of life during winter that almost all of us will have to become 'snow-removers' at some point.

Unfortunately, reports show that more than 34,000 people were brought to the Emergency Room for injuries received while shoveling snow. For this reason you may want to consider hiring someone to keep your walks clean, or invest in a snowblower. 

But if you plan to do it the old fashioned way be sure to prepare. Wear boots to keep your footing and put some layers on. You might get hot from working, so remove the extra layers as needed. Also, be sure to stretch properly! We often don't think about stretching as important, but our muscles need more time to get ready than we do to get out the door.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons has also created a helpful tip list for dealing with your own snow.

1. Push, don't lift:

As we know, a huge amount of back injuries are a result of lifting. So, it should make sense that to help protect yourself, you should try to push the snow where you can, instead of lifting it. If you must lift, do so with your legs, keeping your back straight.

2. Don't throw the snow over your shoulder or to the side:

Both of these actions require your back to make a twisting motion that builds stress. Instead, turn your whole body to dump the snow or walk to where you are piling it.

3. Start Early:

As my dad taught me, the best time to remove the snow is when it's fresh and still light. This will help you avoid heavy, packed snow. If there is already a large amount of snow in the way, chip away piece by piece, instead of trying to toss it all at once.