It’s a new year, which means new resolutions to make, and break, before the end of January.
Though the first of the month traditionally prompts ambition, research shows that only 8 percent of people who make a New Year’s Resolution actually keep it. Why is that?
Last year’s top resolutions, according to the Statistic Brain Research Institute, included losing weight, getting organized, saving money, enjoying life to the fullest, and staying fit and healthy. While all are admirable and common goals, they are not very specific.
Three important elements in effectively changing your lifestyle habits include being explicit in what you want to change, starting out with small changes, and holding yourself accountable to those changes daily. The final two goals on last year’s list, enjoying life to the fullest and staying fit and healthy, are great overall expectations for the New Year. There is a lot of room for achievement depending on how you plan out your steps to getting there.
At Her Mind Magazine, we strive to provide our readers with a unique blend of content that motivates them to be the best they can be. Physical fitness, mental stimulation, and emotional wellbeing are all aspects of one’s health that allow them to live a full life. Maintaining those components is an ideal target for 2016, and making the following steps a part of your New Year’s Resolution will ensure you see success.
For Physical Health
- Commit to doing one physical activity for at least 30 minutes, seven days a week. Plan in advance to mark a clear activity [walking, hiking, biking, running] at a specific time on your calendar each day. Then, share that calendar digitally with your friends and family. Inviting people to join you on your journey will make the process more entertaining, and allow you to hold yourself accountable to the goal. The key here is consistency. Maintain your activity schedule for at least a month before switching it up.
- Add a healthy food to your diet to balance it out. This step will be a lot more simple to put into practice than the traditional goal of cutting out a food you crave. Whether it’s more vegetables, fruit, or protein that you need, filling your plate with nutritious food groups may actually prevent you from eating additional unhealthy items. The United States Department of Agriculture has put together a website where you can build your ideal plate of food based on your age, gender, and level of physical activity. This tool provides charts to help you visualize the components of your diet. Once your diet becomes more balanced, you may find it easier to replace your old favorites with healthy alternatives. Remember, the New Year is a great time to explore and try something new!
- Join a unique fitness class, or Meetup group, for an activity you’ve never considered before. This resolution could add a little more to your plate financially if you choose a class at your local gym or fitness center, but remember that there are free opportunities at different retail stores and through Meetup groups in your area. Whether it’s acroyoga, rock climbing, hula hooping, zip lining, or anything else you have always wanted to try, 2016 could be the year you take the leap into experiencing new things and meeting new people.
For Mental/Emotional Health
- There are many different approaches to meditation, but a simple explanation is that it is the practice of quiet, concentrated thought. Studies show that taking as little as 15 minutes out of your day to meditate can improve your cognitive function, and your perception of life in general, in a positive way. Taking time during the day to pause, relax, and reflect on your actions, will help to refresh you for the tasks ahead.
- Exercise your brain with a game or other educational outlet. Stimulating your mind with a learning tool is not solely beneficial for improving your memory, perception, and reasoning skills at work, but it can help you socially as well! Building upon these skills will improve your interactions with others, in addition to the fact that an educational book or video can make a great conversation piece.
- Establish a consistent sleep cycle. Set a defined time for you to get into bed and unwind each night. Also, give yourself enough time to get a full night’s rest, which studies show is between four and six sleep cycles (one sleep cycle is 90 minutes of full sleep). Ensure that you stick to this schedule by not planning any activities that will prevent you from getting to bed, or waking up, at your consistent scheduled time. Share your goals so that friends and family can help you with this task. You may feel as if you are missing out initially, but your body, and spirit, will thank you later.
