Golfing in Arizona one year with family and friends, I spent sometime declaring a few mulligans as I worked my way around the beautiful golf course. It might have been the desert air, or the fact I hadn't golfed in way too long, but we spent some time in the rough hunting for our golf balls and laughing hysterically at how such a shot had gone awry. I mean, we collected way more golf balls in the desert sand than were ours, so we just declared a mulligan, and moved back on to the course to take a "do over."

A mulligan is when a minor blunder occurs either unnoticed or without consequences, or when a second change to perform an action occurs, usually after the first chance went didn't go very well. Well, I hate to admit it, but this seems to happen a lot when I am golfing, and thank goodness the people I golf with are quite forgiving.

In my profession of physical therapy, the new year represents a chance for "mulligans" and "do overs," right? The definition of a "do over" is to renovate or redecorate, a chance to start over again and do it right this time. But do we want to merely declare a mulligan and throw the ball back out on the course, or should we actually spend some time taking a few golf lessons so we could actually improve our golf game and declare less mulligans this year?

I know for me there are some things I do not want to repeat when it comes to my health. There are some habits of mine I want to be old habits, and I want to put new habits in their place. But how do we change our health habits in this new year?

These simple steps will help you as you choose a healthier lifestyle in the new year:

1) Identify your health goals for this year: Maybe it is to lose 20 pounds or get off your high blood pressure medicine. Maybe it means you need to get your bum knee fixed, or find out how to have better sleep hygiene, or look better at the lake this summer. Everyone's goals are different, but you need to identify them and write them down so you can see them.

2) Make a plan to accomplish your goals: Plans can be a tricky thing. They seem to start off strong and then lose their power, so you will need to design a way to work it into your lifestyle everyday. If you want to lose 20 pounds, you need to decide to bring your own lunch everyday, which means packing it the night before when you aren't so tired. If you want to decrease your blood pressure medications, you need to participate in aerobic exercise everyday for 30-60 minutes to rejuvenate your heart and lungs. If you want to change your emotions about your job so you can sleep at night, you may need to make an appointment with a mental health counselor so you can deal with some of your challenging emotions. Whatever it is, write it down so you can see it. You can't change it if you don't recognize it.

3) Commit to a new healthy lifestyle: I think this is often the most difficult part of the steps, the commitment part. I don't know about you, but this takes all my courage and my willpower. You now have to have the mental fortitude to stay on task. Whew, to me that is the biggest. Sometimes it means that when everyone at the office is zigging you will have to zag, and that takes lots of energy. That means you will have good days and bad days with your plan, and sometimes you will declare a mulligan. When you have to redecorate or renovate your body it takes commitment. But your body and your health are worth it, so write down your plan.

4) Accountability: This part may not seem like a big deal, but when you declare what you are committed to with others, they become part of your team, your cheering section. They will know your heart and they will not let you fail. You will need to choose others to be in lock step with you. So decide who these people will be. They need to be trustworthy and dedicated to your healthy lifestyle choices. You need to be close to them, and you can also join our private group on Facebook to be part of our healthy lifestyle community.

Welcome to the New Year, 2015. We are rooting for you!

Sheree DiBiase, PT, and her staff at Lake City Physical Therapy are starting a Look Better Naked program for 90 days starting Jan 5. Please reserve a spot at our education, weigh in, measurement night. Those of you that need to purchase the TR-90 weight management from the lab please call (208) 667-1988 and ask for Valerie. Please join us in making healthier lifestyle choices in 2015.