Its that time again when we ponder the year that was and plan for what we’d like to focus more time on next year. It’s a chance to take some control of the direction that our lives are taking. A chance to re-evaluate some of our choices, create some short-term goals and put steppingstones in place to help towards the longer-term goals.
We’ve compiled a Top 10 List of achievable New Year’s Resolutions that will help motivate you to live your best life!
1) Be Healthier inside and out!
Develop healthier eating habits and be aware of what you’re putting not only in your mouth, but also on your skin and your most intimate areas. The vaginal eco system is more sensitive and more absorbent than typical skin and many women have no idea that some of the conventional brands they regularly use in or around their vagina contain synthetic ingredients and chemicals that could be harmful to their body and their health! These harsh ingredients not only touch the skin but may also remain on or in her body long after use, potentially affecting her health!
2) Improve your sleep
According to a 2018 study, the body’s ability to function declines if it’s not getting 7 – 8 hours of sleep. Improve the quality of your sleep by minimising light and sound, and making your bedroom a calm, cool, restful sanctuary that’s ideal for sleeping. (It’s a great excuse to splurge on some new bedding!) Set a sleep schedule and try to stick to it, even on weekends. Stay away from caffeine and alcohol in the hours before bed. A hot bath, meditation, relaxing music or reading a book are all good tips to help you to fall asleep.
3) Be more active!
This doesn’t automatically mean signing up to a gym membership; the goal is to have a balanced life that works for you! Start small by simply walking more and taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Take the dog (and/or the kids) for a regular walk. Meet friends for a bike ride on weekends. Park further away from the shops to get a little extra walking time! Dance more!
4) Reduce stress
When stress has a hold on your life, it can be overwhelming and cause havoc with mental and physical health. Symptoms of stress include headaches and muscle tension, poor sleep, lack of motivation, irritability or moodiness and inability to concentrate. Identify the factors that are causing you stress and start changing those that are within your control. Ask for help, re-balance work and home, spend more time with those you love, sleep better, eat better and exercise more regularly! Click here for some stress management strategies. Having indoor plants may help reduce stress levels, as well as provide additional benefits such as sharpening your attention, helping you recover from illness faster, improving indoor air quality and more!
5) Be happier
Make a point of focusing on all the good things in life; a growing awareness of all the positive things around you and gratefulness for it all can boost your mood, ultimately making you more optimistic and positive. Smiling more, exercising more, sleeping more, spending more time with loved ones, meditating, and letting go of grudges (for your own self-care) all contribute to improving happiness. Helping others also boosts your happiness, health, and sense of well-being. Click here for more scientific benefits to lending a hand to those in need.
6) Declutter
Decluttering is a great way to refresh your home and make room for the things that truly matter! But it goes deeper than that, clutter can affect our anxiety levels, sleep and ability to focus. It can also make us less productive, triggering coping and avoidance strategies that make us more likely to snack on junk and watch TV shows. Decluttering your home/space lets you be the best version of yourself and less than half an hour a week spent on decluttering is time well spent. Living a simple life with less “stuff” is achievable and comes with some great benefits; having less stuff means that there’s less to clean and more money in the bank because you’ve spent less buying clutter! Buying less is also better than buying “green” for the planet and your happiness; a 2019 study found that people who consume less are happier than those who engage in other pro-environmental consumer behaviours.
7) Save more money!
Like me, you’ve probably had this resolution on your list for years! Saving money and getting out of, or reducing debt is important for peace of mind. Having a nest egg for emergencies reduces your financial worries and helps you to sleep better at night! It also provides you with options; the more you have in savings, the more control you have over your situation.
8) Start a new hobby, or learn a new skill or language
Adding a new pastime to your repertoire can enhance your life and the pursuit of knowledge is a worthy one indeed! Not only does a new hobby allow you to meet new people and get more social but dedicating some of your spare time to learning new skills is also good for your health! Hobbies offer something fun to do that allows you to decompress and relax after work or on your days off. They can lower anxiety, lower your stress level, and help cope with depression.
9) Spend more time with the right people
Spend more time with the most important people in your life. Life is too short to spend with people who don’t matter or spending every waking hour working. In Bronnie Ware’s bestselling novel “The top Five Regrets of the Dying”, one of the regrets is “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard”. These patients deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence. Another regret was “I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends”; there were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved.
Don’t spend all your waking hours working and make the time to have a meaningful and fulfilling life surrounded by those you love.
10) Connect with life again
Watch less tv and put your phone down! Spend less time on social media (benefits will include decreased levels of anxiety and depression) and let your mind wander. Live in the moment; pay attention to your surroundings and to the present moment. Live mindfully and engage with the world around you. Look up when you walk and see the sky, the birds, the flowers. (Don’t trip over!) Decide what is important to you and do less of everything else. Live more presently.
Many of these resolutions are interconnected and doing one will help towards achieving another. Don’t let this list overwhelm you; picking 4 or 5 resolutions that resonate with you will go a long way towards helping you to enjoy life more!