New Year’s Resolutions- Time to Trade the Hustle for Some Self Care?

This is a hot topic in January…but let’s get a jump on it now, before the New Year hits.  Although there so much to be said on this, I want to highlight a few things that may prove helpful in thinking through what changes you actually want to commit to.

I’m not in love with resolutions like this because there’s a lot of hype around it and for most people, they don’t last…but if you understand why they don’t last, you can often prevent relapse to begin with.

How do you choose your resolutions (this or any other time of year)?

This is a great list of questions to spend a few minutes journaling through.  Some of these questions are overlapping but it’s common that when you engage your brain from new angles, you will come up with different and better answers!  To start, just write down EVERYTHING that comes to mind…this initial brain dump is not a list of rules or commitments…for now it’s just ideas.

1. What do you want to change in your life?  Although I focus a lot on health, health is wealth and, in your life, everything impacts everything.  Have you ever noticed that when you sleep well it’s easier to exercise in the morning…and when you reduce stress, it’s easier to sleep well?  It may help to put these in a few categories.  For example, what do you want for your health?  For your relationships?  For your finances/career?
2. What do you want to change in your life?  It’s not a typo.  The previous question is asking about your desires.  This one is asking you to focus specifically on YOUR desires and make sure they are your own and not someone else’s desires for you.  For example, if you love to travel, start thinking about how many trips and where you want to go, etc.  But if are just traveling because the people in your life value it, but you actually much prefer to be at home, own it…in your case, how can you make your home or at least some part of it into a sanctuary?
3. What is standing in the way of what you want?  This could be a job, a person, a conversation you’ve been avoiding, a debt you want to get paid off, a condition you’re struggling with, some education or skills you need, etc.  Don’t fall into a negative trap here but do get realistic about potential barriers.  List them.  Then for each one, list at least 3 actions you could take to help with that challenge.  Remember to stay empowered and solution oriented.

Once you have worked through these simple but challenging prompts, it’s time to start the work.  

Personally, I recommend doing no more than 3 goals/resolutions.  If you try to work on everything, the bottom falls out and you end up changing nothing.  

Make a long list, then circle the highest priorities or things you’re most excited about.  For example, let’s say for your health, you want to increase energy, lose weight, reduce caffeine and improve your sleep.  When I see these 4 goals, I want to find the one that will change all the others.  In this case, if you improved your sleep and started getting 8 hours per night, with out even thinking much about it, your energy will improve, you will need less caffeine and often weight will start to balance out…but even if the weight doesn’t go right away, you’ll have more energy for exercise and more of a strong will to plan your meals and things like that.  So in this case, find the one that changes the rest so you don’t have so much to think about.

My list of ideas for you (adjust as needed to meet your specific goals):

1. Go to bed by 9pm
2. Schedule your initial consultation or follow up with us by calling today!
3. Schedule a monthly massage
4. Eat 3 cups of vegetables per day
5. Find a fitness class that is FUN for you- basketball league, yoga, weight lifting
6. Hire a personal trainer
7. FINISH YOUR MUD PACKS!  (for more info, click here)
8. Commit to a daily green smoothie
9. Take your supplements each day
10. Send a thank you note to someone each week that you’re grateful for
11. Take an Epsom salt bath each week
12. Exercise with others – this could be a walking buddy or a group fitness class
13. Read books and articles that inspire you and help you grow
14. Tune into podcasts that do the same
15. Journal- there’s a 100+ ways to do this…pick one that resonates and enjoy!
16. Meditations- also 100+ ways to do this…pick one that resonates and put it to the test
17. Stretch for 5 minutes daily
18. Walk or bike or run 10 miles/week
19. Give away your time or money to help others
20. Go to a class or event to further your skills or education
21. Invest in a micronutrient test
22. Invest in a Nutrigenomix test
23. Drink at least half your weight in ounces/day
24. Make specific efforts to connect deeply with someone you love each week
25. Clear out/minimize/declutter a small area of your house for 1 hour/week

The sky is the limit.  Of course for each of these you’d want to get specific about when and how and all the details.  “Read more” isn’t really as powerful as “I will read for 20 minutes, 3 times/week and track it in my planner”.

Next, what steps can you take TODAY to prepare for the launch of this new lifestyle upgrade?  For example, if you’re going to start reading more, do you have the books picked out or ordered?  Do you need to schedule an appt?  Find a class to sign up for?  Ask for help with something?  Buy new walking shoes?  Put supplements or a new blender (I highly recommend a Vitamix Blender…click here for free shipping) on your Christmas list?

The time is now!

It’s going to be a great year! 

If you need help, we’d love to support you.  Call today at 269-204-6525

Nothing said or implied in this post is intended to treat, cure, diagnose or prevent any disease.  It does not take the place of a qualified health care practitioner and is intended for educational purposes only.