Functional & Practical NY Resolutions for a Healthier & Happier Life for 2019 and Beyond

Jan 12th was “QUITTERS DAY”- the day people are most likely to give up their New Year’s resolutions.

According to YouGov the most popular NY resolutions this year were to exercise more, eat healthier and save money. However, the same respondents said these were similar to previous years’ resolutions, and that they haven’t been very successful at keeping them. For the next 19 days, each day I am going to post a functional & practical NY resolution for a healthier & happier life for 2019 and beyond.

A reminder, with some gentle encouragement, that there are both small and big things you can do to prioritise your health and well-being. As always, we are setting you up to succeed.

1)     Drink more water. Simple really, but I can make it simpler. DRINK a medium-to-large glass of water first thing in the morning every day. Wanna up the ante? Add a lemon wedge or a TBSP of apple cider vinegar. But, no worries, you don’t need to do either, just drink that water- leave a bottle at your desk, or a to-go one by your keys. Create and apply habits that make this easy, doable and straight forward.

2)     LAUGH! Full-belly, almost-in-tears laugh. Actively seek this out through books, friends, movies, tv shows, anything Will Ferrell….

3)     Choose to do less of something that is not so good- alcohol, for example, can you limit drinking to weekends and/or less drinks when you drink? Can you decrease sugar- smaller portions of desserts?

4)     Choose to do more of something good- to balance out #3! Do you eat enough veggies? Maybe commit to taking a good quality multi-vitamin…in addition to upping that veggie quantity. 

5)     Challenge! The mind/body/soul likes to be challenged, and the older we get the less we do this and the harder it becomes. Think about doing a 10-day structured cleanse? Or plan a multi-day bike trip? Or learn a new language.

6)     Spend time outside

7)     Spend time alone

8)    Sleep more. And then even a bit more.

https://www.verywellhealth.com/top-health-benefits-of-a-goo…

9)     Eat more veggies!
Commit to trying a couple new veggie recipes, so that you are eating delicious foods that are beyond healthy and also satiating.

10)  JOY- take a moment to think about something that brings you joy, first thing that comes to your mind. Acknowledge it, so that the next time it happens you’ll appreciate it even more.

11)  Commit to try something new- a food, an experience, an event..

12)  EXERCISE.
In Taoism, exercise is done to move your qi, and we all do this in different ways. Albeit yoga, walking, hiking, biking, swimming, playing tennis, lifting weights, tai chi, going to the gym- pick something, anything you like, and then create structures to support actually doing it. Download a podcast for your elliptical session, commit to meet a friend to swim and then catch-up afterwards, take a long walk to a cafe for lunch.

13)  PAMPER- a pedicure, a massage, a bubble bath. 
It is wonderful, and so important, to feel nurtured and cared for, it allows you to be able to extend that to others (partners, parents, friends, co-workers).

14)   READ- do a book challenge, or join/create a book club

15)  SELF-AWARENESS
Find ways to make this successful for you. Part of that is acknowledging what is and is not working, and then to keep trying until you find something that truly resonates with you.

16)  LESS STRESS OR STRESS LESS
Identify the thing the presently makes you the most stressed- work, potty-training your kid, relationship issues, money. Is there one? Consider yourself lucky if you can narrow it down to just 1. 
If it is work, for example, and if you work M-F, then plan something to support relaxation on WEDNESDAY. Maybe have dinner already prepared or order takeaways? Hit up a mid-week yoga class, schedule an acupuncture session. With stress, the body enjoys knowing there is an end in sight, and if there is not an end in sight, the body enjoys knowing that it will get reprieve.

17)  LESS STIMULATION- our hyper-stimulated world is all about being on devices, constant noise in the background, racing from place to place. Turn off your phone, don’t eat in your car, take a moment to have a big breath. 
https://www.psychologytoday.com/…/4-tips-slowing-down-reduc…

18)   SPLURGE- in the best ways, at the right times. 
If you are going to have a treat, go big, but acknowledge that you are doing it and then enjoy absolutely every moment/bite/sip. 
NO GUILT before, during or afterwards. 

19)  Be kind…ER to yourself