Meet the New You
A new year is all about starting afresh and realising your dreams. So, let’s raise a toast to a Happy New Year and even happier beginnings.
Each January, roughly one in three Americans resolve to better themselves in some way. A much smaller percentage of people actually make good on those resolutions.
It's hard to keep up the enthusiasm months after you've swept up the confetti, but it's not impossible. This year, make it your mission to complete the things you know will get you to where you want to be.
Here's to you and to new beginnings!
Focus on setting process-orientated goals!
Some examples include: working out at least 3 times a week and consuming twice as many leafy greens with dinner. The best part about this is that at the end of the day you can tell yourself, "I succeeded!"
Put it to paper.
Writing it down, you're telling your subconscious mind that you're serious, which will help you stay focused. Once you have that list, read it often as a reminder of what you know you're capable of achieving.
Stay accountable.
It's important to have a system in place that inspires and motivates you to stay on track. An accountability partner is a great start!
I'm an admitted resolution junkie.
On New Years Eve, I filled up several pages in a tiny journal with ideas for self-improvement and goal-getting that run the gamut from utterly attainable to dream-girl bonkers. But here's the truth to it: You’ll never accomplish what you don’t attempt. Literally. And thinking of something to attempt, well, that’s the first step.
This week, I decided I’ll spare you my complete list of resolutions, and present you with a few ideas instead. No surprise, these are resolutions written with an eye toward simplifying. Some of these are things that I’ve been doing for years—and some of them I’ve written about before—but there are also things that I’m resolving to commit to for the first time.
Here’s hoping these ideas offer a little bit of encouragement in the new year. We all need a little nudge now and then. Me, especially.
1. Face my fears. - Don't let fear control your life. Learn how to overcome it.
2. Learn to line dance. So many moves to remember, but I am determined to get it down!
3. Intentional Intimacy with God. By this I mean I need to have grow closer to God by having one on one time with Him by reading the Bible everyday and doing prayer.
4. Stay Optimisitc. "Being optimistic isn't always being happy, it's taking what the world throws at you and saying, 'I'm not going to let this get me down.'
5. Go back to school. Whether it be obtaining online certificates or studying books or learning a new sport; I think its best to learn as much as possible while you still can, because you never know when you may need to apply that knowledge.
6. Save money. My goal is to save every $5 bill I get. If one saved $5 for six months, you would have $900. If you saved for a year, you could possibly have $1,825. A little can go a long way.
7. Volunteer. We tend to think our own bliss relies on bettering ourselves, but our happiness also increases when we help others.
8. Get more sleep. You probably already know that a good night’s rest can do wonders for your mood—and appearance. But sleep is more beneficial to your health than you might realize.A lack of sleep has been linked to a greater risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. And sleep is crucial forstrengthening memories (a process called consolidation, I think). So take a nap—and don’t feel guilty about it.
9. Roadtrip. Traveling allows us to tap into life as an adventure, and we can make changes in our lives without having to do anything too bold or dramatic.
10. Eat more salads. Some people refer to Whole Foods Market as "whole paycheck market" and that one organic apple is likely to cost more than a fast food hamburger, but if you think about, though it may cost more at the time, overall it is cheaper then the hamburger. Because if you eat too much fast food and get diabetes or another sickness then your paying extra for the cost of medicine and medical assistance, where if you eat healthy, overall your body is healthy and you are less likely to visit the doctor. Like the saying goes, an apple a day, keep the doctor a way.
Good Luck and Happy New Year!
