Bah Humbug to New Year's Resolutions is what I usually say. I have always disapproved of the lofty promises made to improve fitness, give up smoking or drink less made in a haze of guilt about Christmas bingeing. They're bound to fail. Sound familiar? Well what I am proposing now isn't the traditional New Year's promises, but setting intentions for the New Year that will give you the motivation to achieve more this year.
Eat healthier and exercise more
Be Realistic: If you have been on a "gobble 'til you wobble" Christmas bender and haven't seen the inside of a gym for the last 10 years, it's unlikely you'll make the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition by the spring. In fact, the gym may not be your thing at all. Be realistic about your intentions. Set a very attainable level of fitness and healthy eating. Remember -- small victories are the best motivation.
If you aren't a gym person, find running pointless unless being chased by a zombie, and hate anything that requires spandex, then I suggest making smaller concessions like getting a dog that will need to be walked, biking to work, walking around the neighbourhood every day, or even walking to the store when you need groceries. Just a little better is still better. If you make small incremental changes every month, you'll be swimsuit edition material by the end of the year!
Be more environmentally friendly
Being green takes a very little bit of effort for so much win. You can save money, feel good and create a healthier world for yourselves and future generations. Just a few small changes a month could really make a huge impact. Consult our 'Green Challenge 2014' list for ideas.
Be thankful
Take some time out of every day to be thankful for all you have. Being thankful reduces your blood pressure and helps to relieve tension and puts things in perspective. A change of attitude is as good as a holiday. Remembering just how far you've come and how awesome you are is a wonderful way to make you happy. You're lucky and pretty kickass!
Take responsibility
Sure, shit happens, but most of the things about your life are things you choose every day. That means that you are the captain of your own pirate ship, you scurvy seadog. Don't let this overwhelm you with existential angst; see this as a wonderful opportunity to change anything you aren't happy with. Not only that, but changing your attitude about the things you don't have a choice about can help to make your life happier and healthier.
Resolve to Evolve
Meditation baby, it's the bomb. Just 10 minutes a day can really help you to reduce stress, keep calm, improve higher cognitive functioning, lower blood pressure and help you to relax. Allowing yourself to really be present for even small increments of your day will be an incredible boon. If you are new to meditation, listen to a 10-minute guided mediation to start your day every day.
Whatever your intentions are for this New Year, make them extremely attainable so that you avoid the kind of disappointment that will set the tone for the coming year. Small incremental improvements are those difficult first steps on the road to a joyful and abundant life. Write your intentions down and place them somewhere that you can see them every day.
Good luck, friend. I know you can do it! If you fall off the wagon, don't let it ruin everything. Just forget about it and get back on that horse. Happy New Year and may this be your very best year ever!
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