It’s January 7 and if you close your eyes and listen closely, you can hear the sound of countless 2019 New Year’s Resolutions crashing to the ground. Don’t get us wrong — we know these resolutions were backed by genuinely pure intentions, but we know some people may have bit off more than they can chew. It’s these kind of goals that make nay-sayers scrunch their faces at the thought of resolutions. Can these hopes actually help you live a better life?
We certainly believe it does! That’s why we’re making this realistic list of goals for this year for anyone who…
- has already
failednot started working towards their goal - wants to be a goal-maker but are commitment-phobic
- wants to make a goal that can start TODAY, not tomorrow (or Jan. 1 2020)
Lets use goals that are pretty common and we’ll spin it into a more realistic one. Are you ready? Let’s do this, 2019!
New Year, Same You, But Improved
Here’s a goal lots of people make: “I’m going to become a new person.” That’s a good place to start, but we have to be honest, that can fall flat. Not to mention, we are wonderful the way we are so why start trying to be someone else?
We love a good Transformation, but we also know that even the most dramatic Transformations begin with specific goals. So, what is it that you want to change exactly? These things matter — and the more specific you are, the better chance you have of following through.
Slightly altering the way we see things (and ourselves), helps create a change in behavior – automatically! Maybe instead of becoming a completely different person, you focus on improving your wonderfulness. As you create these positive changes, you’ll be surprised by how quickly you transform – inside and outside.
Exercising + Activity
Looking to exercise more? Here are some specific goals that can help you stay active all year-long. But here’s the real key: make it enjoyable!
- Work in a ten to twenty minute walk every day. Here’s a secret: you don’t necessarily need to pencil in any additional work. This activity could simply mean walking to a local store instead of driving. When you’re taking a break at work, why not take a quick walk? Always remember to be aware of your surroundings.
- Ride your bike – either for fun or function. When was the last time you just took a cruise on your bike? Or what about using your bike instead of your car to run a few errands or visit a friend? Incorporating physical movement into your routine as pleasure and function will help broaden your transformational opportunities and you won’t even notice it because you’ll be too busy feeling free from obligation.
- Take a hike…in your city. We’d love to think we are the type of hikers we see pictured on Instagram, but some of us just aren’t (and that’s okay.) That doesn’t mean you can’t go out into the world and get your fitness on. Plan a trip once a month to venture around a new locale in your area. Maybe it’s a walk in a neighborhood downtown or beach trail, or just checking out local shops in a hip shopping destination.
- Walk your dog or volunteer at an animal shelter. Okay, we said low-commitment, so we understand if you’re freaking out a little at this suggestion. But hey, sometimes we need a little buddy to help reach our fitness goals and our animal-friends can help. Volunteering at an animal shelter is a great way to help the world and get a little cardio in while doing it. Usually, they’ll have you on your feet in some way. If volunteering, don’t feel too bad if you can’t dedicate too much time, many organizations are happy to get any help at all. But yes, this does require some commitment, so don’t sign up if you’re not ready.
Weight Loss + Healthy Living
Losing weight is probably one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions and probably ranks high on the failed resolution list too. But you can lower your chance of coming up short if you have more specific goals. Here are some that won’t have you dreading any promises you made to yourself:
- Take a break from processed food. Maybe the the thought of giving up processed foods makes you a little scared. So, start it off slow. If you eat a lot of processed foods (maybe frequent fast-food meals or boxed goodies), try taking a little mini-vacation from those habit. Try a day or two. If you’re feeling super motivated, take a week off a 10-Transformation. Then, note how much better you feel and any weight you have lost. This will help you cut out bad stuff.
- Pre-plan at least two dishes per week. Meal-planning can help you keep track of what you’re eating. We’re not saying to plan out a full week – just a few meals. You can create a fresh, hearty salad (this one from Healthy Foodie). You can also try working in flex foods.
- Make one dinner a week plant-based. This has made an many of our lists, but it’s only because it’s such a good idea. The plant-based lifestyle has been linked to plenty of health benefits.
- Switch up your healthy entrees once in a while. For those of you who already do the above, try this tip. Swap out some of your staple healthy dishes for new recipes. The World Health Organization suggests a varied diet can ban help protect the body from certain diseases as well as support a health lifestyle.
Mental Health
If you haven’t made mental health a priority in 2019 yet, here’s your reminder. Mental health is essential to overall health. A popular resolution is to actually “work on mental health.” But might that look like?
- Make some “me-time” at least once a week. “Me-time” is whatever you want it to be — maybe it’s reading a book, soaking in a bath, maybe it’s both or maybe it’s watching re-runs of old “Friends” episodes — regardless, set time aside every week to help center yourself. What exactly does this mean? Reflect on your week, prepare for next week and re-charge your inner-battery.
- Schedule a monthly outing with friends and family. For some, hanging with others helps re-charge the body and helps keep their spirits up. In this case, you should make concrete plans with others. So, get out that phone right now and get some dates in that calendar for socializing!
- Schedule an initial/diagnostic appointment with a professional. There is no substitute for professional help. There’s also no shame; in fact, it’s the opposite! Here’s a neat resource to help.
Conquer 2019
Resolution-season is exciting, but it could also be a little discouraging, too. Just remember, try to structure your goals to benefit the long-run, rather than short-term. Good luck!
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