The following Family & Consumer Science article printed in the January 14, 2016 edition of the Oldham Era.

2016 New Years Resolutions

Trying to rescue a failed New Year’s resolution? Help yourself to a healthy dose of motivation.

When people monitor their behavior and measure their progress, they are often inspired to do better and achieve positive results. The Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service is launching an online Small Steps to Health and Wealth™ (SSHW) Challenge called “Kentucky 2016 Resolution Restart.” This free four-week program is designed to help you improve both your health and personal finance behaviors.

To sign up for the SSHW Challenge, follow the SSHW Online Challenge link available on the National Steps to Health and Wealth™ Challenge website. Register an account, then enroll in the challenge titled “Kentucky 2016 Resolution Restart.”

The SSHW Challenge is part of Small Steps to Health and Wealth™, a national Cooperative Extension program developed to motivate Americans to take action to simultaneously improve their health and personal finances. SSHW was built around a framework of 25 research-based behavior change strategies.

The SSHW Challenge is based on the performance of ten recommended daily practices, five that involve health and nutrition and five that involve financial management. Ten points are given for performing each one for a maximum of 700 points per week and 4,200 points for the entire challenge.

The five daily health and nutrition practices are: eat at least four cups of fruits and vegetables; get at least 30 minutes of exercise; drink water or unsweetened beverages instead of sugar-sweetened beverages; walk 10,000 or more steps; and learn something new about health and nutrition.

The five daily financial management practices included in the SSHW Challenge are: save a $1 bill (or more) and/or pocket change; save/invest $5 or more per day (including automated retirement savings plan deposits); track money spent throughout the day; eat lunch prepared at home; and learn something new about personal finance.

As participants enter their personal data, they will see their point totals for each day of the week and for each of the ten activities described above. A bar graph also compares their personal progress to the average scores of everyone else participating in the Challenge. Daily motivational messages will also be provided to participants.

Adding even one of the ten recommended practices to your daily routine is a great way to get started on the path to better health and improved financial security. The more SSHW Challenge activities that are performed by participants, the better. Challenge yourself to better health and wealth today.

Written by Barbara O’Neill, Financial Resource Management Extension Specialist, and Karen Ensle, Family and Community Health Sciences Educator. Edited by Lauren State, Oldham County Extension Staff Assistant. Reviewed by Chris Duncan, Oldham County Extension Family & Consumer Science Agent.