What’s your New Year’s resolution??
It’s a common question you hear, and probably even ask, toward the end of December or early January. What is that relatively empty promise you made yourself to either stop or start doing something? Year after year, it’s the same old story: I’ll start exercising, I’ll eat healthy, I’ll save money, and so on. All of which are great resolutions, if you actually follow through.
Keeping your resolutions is hard. Plain and simple. Changing your lifestyle is hard. If you aren’t willing to commit to a change in lifestyle then the harsh reality is you won’t keep your resolution.
Resolution is defined as: “a firm decision to do, or not do something.” (Thanks dictionary.com!)
Seems simple enough, yet year after year I face the same reality and those resolutions hit the back burner right around the beginning of February.
Intention is defined as: “a thing intended; an aim or a plan.”
See, I feel wholeheartedly that I can be more successful in 2018 if I set intentions rather than resolutions. I know what you’re thinking… those are the same thing. But they’re not!
Intentions can be set daily. Intentions are not binding, but pure. Intentions are healthy and achievable.
As 2017 has come and gone, I encourage you to start setting your intentions for the new year. Not vowing that you will quit eating cupcakes, but setting the intention to put good food into your body.
As you start thinking about how this would work in your life, consider the following:
I intend on creating a morning routine that makes me feel valued and prepares me for my day.
What does that look like?
I will wake up a half hour, maybe 45 minutes earlier, so that I can sit with my coffee and just be. Without kids, without husband, without noise. Waking up on my terms and doing something that makes me feel good. Maybe you stretch, maybe you read, maybe you journal, maybe you just kick your feet up and enjoy the time to yourself.
I intend on finding a fitness routine that works for me.
What does that look like?
I know I should be exercising for my weight, muscle tone, and overall health, but I hate the gym. Forcing yourself to go to a place you hate everyday is not going to get you where you want to be. Take some time in January to try out some local fitness studios. Look for something and somewhere that makes you feel welcome; somewhere that you look forward to going. The struggle isn’t always physical. Once you find a place that makes you want to be there, the ‘getting in shape’ part is easier.
I intend on putting better quality foods into my body.
What does that look like?
No carbs, no grains, no dairy, no sugar, no alcohol… yeah, okay. First of all, be honest with yourself. Where can you make realistic changes in your eating habits that will lead to an overall better state of health? Can you drink an extra bottle of water each day? Can you switch to skim milk in your coffee? Can you cut down on eating out? Small changes lead to bigger changes. Once you start noticing the differences in how you feel and how you look, you’ll want to keep going! Making changes that you can manage will help to mold your new mindset about eating, instead of forcing you to fit into a diet that is all or nothing.
And you can argue that these are just resolutions worded differently, and for the most part they are. But the reality is the way you speak to yourself has a huge impact on your self-esteem and your motivation. Speaking to yourself in a way that is supportive and positive can create a shift in your thinking. Once you are in a healthy place mentally, your mind will lead your body. So set those intentions, and forget about those resolutions of the past!
