New Year’s resolutions can be a challenge to stick to, even if you’re truly motivated. Sometimes, life gets in the way, and it can be difficult to stay on one path no matter how much you want it. When it comes to matters of physical and mental health, you may find that stress or a busy schedule are getting in the way of your goals, or you might have a financial setback that leaves you unable to start your resolution off with a bang. However, finding a way to stick to your goals and see them through can help to boost your self-esteem and confidence and can kick off a successful new year in other aspects of your life because you’re that much more motivated.
So, how do you make your resolutions stick? For starters, it’s important to think about your health in terms of overall wellness. It’s not all about diet and exercise, although those are two main components; it’s also about how you sleep, how you reduce stress, and how well you manage your schedule and energy levels.
Keep reading for tips on how to make sure your new year starts off right.
Create a Sleep Routine That Works
Millions of Canadians don’t get enough sleep. For some, stress and anxiety play a role; for others, it’s more about a busy schedule that finds them staying up late to get things done. When it comes to your overall wellness, sleep is a major factor, and it’s important to look for ways you can change your rest for the better in order to boost your mood and your energy levels. Since your bedroom should be the most comfortable room in your home, it only makes sense to start there. You might add some blackout curtains to keep the sun at bay, soft bedding and a noise machine to help you relax, and neutral colors to calm your mind after a long day.
Make Healthy Eating Easy
For all of us who want to incorporate more healthy foods into our diet this year, it can be easy to fall off after a while. Long days at work sometimes means that stopping for a fast food dinner is easier than cooking, or a bout of illness may drive you to comfort food. When healthy eating is both inexpensive and convenient, it’s much easier to stick to your plan, so look for ways you can save money while keeping health-friendly foods in stock at home. Clip coupons, create a meal plan, watch for sales, consider growing a vegetable garden, or look online for info on a meal delivery service that will make cooking a nutrient-rich dinner easy.
Look for Motivation
It can be difficult to stay motivated when it comes to a workout routine, especially during the winter when the weather is often too cruel to get outside. There are some ways around this, however, such as creating a small home gym using inexpensive workout tools — a yoga mat, dumbbells, and stability ball are wonderful starts — so you can exercise no matter what the weather is doing. You can also ask a friend or loved one to be your workout buddy; this way, you can both motivate and hold each other accountable.
Reduce Stress
Stress and anxiety definitely have their place in leaving you feeling exhausted and unmotivated, so it’s important to find ways to reduce those feelings. Get organized at work and at home, take up a hobby or learn meditation, and suss out the things that keep you from feeling relaxed so you can nip them in the bud before they overwhelm you.
Sticking to your resolutions during the new year doesn’t have to be a stressful endeavor; it should be one you actually want to pursue. With a little planning and some motivation, you can ensure that your mind and body are in great shape month after month.
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