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Setting New Year Intentions

The start of a new year is often an exciting time and an opportunity for reflection as many of us look back on the year prior and evaluate what worked (and what may not have). However, it can potentially bring an overwhelming feeling of stress about how we can be better moving forward. Changing your lifestyle is about baby steps, so follow these tips to create healthy habits that last.

Recognize your achievements

Upon reflecting on the past year, it can be easy to look down on yourself for fallbacks. But it’s important to remember how far you’ve come already. Perhaps a year ago you didn’t drink as much water or take frequent enough walks. Take note of the achievements you’ve made — no matter how small. Doing so will empower you to take more steps towards your end goal. Remember: change is not possible overnight, so the progress you made in 2021 is important to acknowledge.

Be intentional

As you start setting goals for the new year, think short and long term. There are 365 days for you to get that much closer to the best version of yourself. You may try breaking the year into chunks — perhaps in three-month increments. This will help you see your goals more clearly and make them more attainable.

For example, from January to March, you may strive towards 8 cups of water each day. From April to June, introduce a new exercise routine 3-5 days per week. During the months of July through September, motivate yourself to improve your gut health. Then close out the year by practicing meditation or journaling every day before bed. There are plenty of fun ways to prioritize a healthy lifestyle, so don’t be afraid to get creative with your approach.

Give yourself some grace

There will be days when you don’t eat enough vegetables or skip a workout, but that doesn’t mean you’re not on your way to a better lifestyle. Several things can get in the way of our health journey, including lack of sleep, financial concerns, problems at work, or trouble at home. Occasional slip-ups are part of the process, so when they happen, give yourself some grace. It won’t take long for your consistent practices to become habits. And the healthier you become physically and mentally, the more resilient you are to handle life stressors.

 

Ready to bring balance and vitality back into your life? Connect with us online or give us a call 901-312-7899.

Setting Achievable New Year’s Resolutions for 2021

2020 was unlike any other, so it’s not surprising if your New Year’s resolutions for 2021 look a bit different. With the unexpected challenges we’ve endured throughout the last ten months, you may feel anxious or stressed as you approach the new year. And while it’s easy to focus your energy on self-improvement — making promises to work out, eat healthier, and be more productive in the new year — it’s important to give yourself some grace. Here are three tips to setting achievable New Year’s resolutions for 2021:

Tip #1: Start small

If nothing else, 2020 taught us how important it is to live a healthy lifestyle. But before you start jotting down a list of fitness and nutrition to do’s, think about what kinds of intentions you want to set and start small. For instance, if your goal is to run a marathon, consider committing instead to walking or jogging one mile per day, then working your way up without the pressure of racing on a specific date. That way, you won’t burn yourself out or get discouraged too quickly. If you want to go vegan, try incorporating meatless Mondays into your routine, then perhaps moving to a vegetarian diet before making the jump to vegan. The same is true for things we want to stop doing in our daily life— perhaps smoking or consuming alcohol. Quitting cold turkey can sometimes have the opposite effect in terms of success, causing you to bounce back to old habits when it gets overwhelming. To avoid this, cut back slowly with small changes like only drinking on weekends. You may also benefit from a natural detox to hit your body’s reset button.

Tip #2: Be present

In times of distress, we often look for distractions to shift our focus from what’s actually going on in our daily lives. Particularly in 2020, you may have found your phone usage increased, or that you feel less productive, even though technically you have more time at home than ever before. Whether it’s putting a halt to the endless scrolling on your phone every morning or introducing a mindfulness practice of yoga and meditation, focusing on the present moment lowers stress hormones. And when we feel less stressed, we sleep better, have improved memory, and experience less health problems down the road.

Tip #3: Make adjustments

You may have started with a specific goal, but later realized it wasn’t realistic. It’s never too late to change your resolutions, so cut yourself some slack and start fresh. Perhaps your original plan was to train for a marathon, later realizing you don’t like running. The best way to succeed at a movement-focused goal is to find something you can enjoy doing. So if it’s not running, you may try an online HIIT, dance, or yoga class. And if exercise doesn’t turn out to be your focus for the new year, shift to something else you can control, like swapping out toxic products around your home — from skincare to cleaning supplies.

Ready to bring balance and vitality back into your life? Connect with us online or text us at (901) 312-7899.