5 Easy & Healthy New Year Goals to start. Usually, On January 1st, new gym memberships soar and a salad is number one on menu. Some people will be ordering salads in every restaurant, or at home. Some will overload themselves with ambitious resolutions for the new year. By the end of the month, the gym will have a little more elbow room. And vegetables will be neglected, and the generally positive mood will drop as real life kicks in.
However, there are ways to stick to the resolutions so ambitiously set as the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve. These methods center on making smart goals. Like where to begin, planning on how to fulfill them, and maintaining and boosting motivation, Lastly, and rewarding progress.
Setting Up For Success – Make Smart Goals
New Year’s resolutions should be smart: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. Many people aspire to lose weight in the new year. A smarter version of this goal would be to resolve to lose 10 pounds by March to fit into a dress for a spring wedding, birthday or anniversary.
Starting the New Year Right – Plan Ahead
Perhaps the most vital indicator of whether or not people stick to their New Year’s resolution is how well they plan. Generally, the most important work is done before the New Year: planning out how the goal will be accomplished, not just deciding on the goal itself.
Again, specificity and realism are key. Joining a gym to lose 10 pounds is not specific enough. Decide how often to commit to exercising and research to choose a specific workout plan.
Seeing Goals Through – Maintain Motivation
As life begins to resume its hectic pace again after the holidays, resolutions often fade in importance. It is easier to keep a resolution fresh by sharing it with as many friends, family, and coworkers as possible. Moreover, when people continually ask how the process is going, it provides a motivation boost. Therefore, Choosing a buddy to work towards the same goal is also helpful.
Gaining Momentum – Reward Progress Productively
Furthermore, Many people have an “all-or-nothing” mindset when it comes to achieving goals. It is more productive to reward oneself for progress, however small. If results are coming more slowly than expected, do not give up.
Additionally, rewards should not be counter-productive to the goal in question. For a person trying to lose weight, a bowl of ice cream is perhaps not the most ideal treat. A trip to the movies or a pedicure may be more appropriate. With these strategies, one will find it easier to achieve goals set for the New Year.
Although, for decades losing weight has been a chart-topper on millions of people’s New Year’s resolutions. Therefore, if you are like most people you will weigh as much, if not more 12 months from now. Why? Because most people set unrealistic exercise and eating regimens. After 3 or 4 weeks, they quickly go back to their old bad habits. So rather than saying that you will go to the gym 6 times per week or that you will stick to your broccoli and cabbage diet. You should consider these 5 healthy resolutions that anyone can do!
5 Easy & Healthy Goals
1). Indoor Plants:
The benefits of indoor plants are numerous. Adding just 2 or 3 small potted plants will dramatically improve the air quality of your home, give off vast amounts of oxygen and act as natural humidifiers. Some easy-to-grow options include: the Snake Plant, Peace Lily, Weeping Fig, Spider Plant, and Boston Fern. Also, if you are not good with plants then get some artificial plants like these.
2). Get a Massage:
There is no denying the power of a good full-body massage. Massages can exercise and stretch weak, tight or atrophied muscles; increase joint flexibility, improve circulation and reduce fatigue. In addition, massages are amazingly relaxing and are a great stress reliever.
3). Fruit Desert:
We all know that eating fruit is an important part of any diet. Yet despite this knowledge, most of us are not consuming nearly enough fruit daily. One easy solution; replace your dessert at lunch and/or at dinner with fruit. Some of the healthiest, most vitamin-rich, and tasty fruits include: kiwis, pineapples, mangoes, strawberries, apples, bananas, coconuts, raspberries, cherries, and blueberries.
4). The Right Parking Spot:
Fitting in time to exercise can seem like a chore in and of itself. Between work, kids, fixing meals, and doing laundry; who has the time? One easy solution is to park your car in a spot that is farthest from the front of most buildings or stores. By parking your car just 200 feet farther away every day at work, you will walk over a third of a mile per week or roughly 19 miles over a year! Also take 15-20 mins out of your day and go on family walks at your local park or throughout your neighborhood.
5). Go to Bed:
How many hours of sleep are you getting per night? 5 hours? 6 hours? By not getting a full 8 hours, you may be jeopardizing your health and increasing your waistline. Scientists have found that metabolism and sleep are controlled by the same sectors of the brain. To get that restful night’s sleep: cut out the afternoon and evening caffeine, turn off your TV and other electronic devices at least 20 minutes before hopping into bed, and keep your bedroom temperatures between 65 – 70 degrees.
Consider these 5 Easy & Healthy New Year Goals. They are simple and measurable goals to kick star your new year. And to help you gradually make room for your bigger new year goals. Thanks for reading and follow my blog at https://sheriseswithgrace.com/ for more wellness, travels and tips. (Disclaimer: Please note this post is NOT medical advice. This is my account of my personal experiences. You must and/or seek medical help before making any changes to your medical conditions).