Are you tired of meaningless New Year’s Resolutions that don’t last until the end of January? It's not too late to promise yourself something wonderful instead!
For Your New Year's Resolution Skip the Don’t and Do Something Enjoyable Instead
We are really excited to share suggestions for positive resolutions that are easy to keep and will make a great impact too.
1. Skip Restricting What You Eat
Kick all the restrictions to the curb!
Instead of getting on a diet, learn about intuitive eating and listen to your body's signals. If you pay better attention to your body you will notice what you crave for and when.
Intuitive eating can be beneficial for a number of reasons.
Improve body image
Intuitive eating can help you develop a more positive body image by focusing on the pleasure and satisfaction of eating, rather than weight or body size.
Normalise eating
Stop thinking of certain foods as "good" or "bad" and instead focus on eating a variety of foods in response to hunger and fullness.
Improve physical health
Reach and maintain a healthy weight and improve overall health by focusing on nutrient-dense foods and eating in response to hunger and fullness.
Improve mental health
Reduce disordered eating patterns and improve mental health by reducing the feelings of guilt or shame associated with eating.
Build a healthy relationship with food
Learn to trust your body's hunger and fullness cues, rather than relying on external cues or rules.
Develop a sustainable approach to eating
Intuitive eating helps to develop a sustainable approach to eating, as it is based on listening to one's body and responding to its signals. This approach can help to break the cycle of restriction, bingeing and guilt.
It's important to note that intuitive eating is not a quick fix, it's a process that needs to be learned and practiced over time. It's also important to consult with a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian for personalised advice.
2. No Complain Days
Implement no complain days or even weeks! Here are some examples of how complaining less can benefit you.
Complaining less can help to:
Improve mental and emotional well-being
Constantly complaining can lead to negative emotions and stress, which may negatively impact a person's overall mental and emotional well-being. By not complaining, you can reduce these negative effects and improve your overall mood.
Build stronger relationships 👭
Complaining can damage relationships. By not complaining, you can build stronger relationships with others based on mutual respect and understanding.
Increase resilience
Complaining can make a person feel helpless and powerless. Not complaining allows you to take action and find solutions to problems, which can increase resilience and self-esteem.
Attract positive energy and opportunities
Not complaining can help you create a positive energy which can attract positive opportunities.
Improve problem-solving skills
Instead of complaining, focus on finding solutions to problems. This can improve problem-solving skills and lead to more effective and efficient problem resolution.
3. One Challenge Per Month
Try something new that is outside your comfort zone. Pick up training with a professional trainer or try a new sport.
Picking up a new challenge every month can be beneficial for a number of reasons.
Personal growth
Taking on new challenges can help you learn and grow, both personally and professionally. It can help you to develop new skills, gain new perspectives and increase your overall self-awareness.
Increase confidence
Successfully completing a new challenge can help to build confidence and self-esteem. This can then carry over to other areas of life, making you feel more capable and resilient.
Stay motivated and engaged
Picking up a new challenge every month can help to keep you motivated and engaged, as you'd have something new to focus on and work towards. This can help to prevent boredom and stagnation too.
Break out of your comfort zone
Taking on new challenges can help you to break out of your comfort zone, leading to new experiences and personal growth.
Expand your horizon
Expose yourself to new ideas, people, and experiences to broaden your horizon and help you to see the world in a different way.
Improve your problem-solving skills
New challenges often require you to think creatively and come up with solutions to problems. This can help to improve your problem-solving skills, benefitting in both your personal and professional life.
Achieve personal goals
Setting and achieving a new challenge every month can help you to set and achieve your personal goals, and make you feel empowered and motivated.
Make sure to set realistic and achievable goals and take time to reflect on the learnings after the challenge is completed.
"Making a New Year's resolution is one thing, keeping it is another"
4. Chose to Wear Ethically Made Clothes
Decide to make conscious and thoughtful purchases of items you will wear for a long time. Make sure that they are sustainable and ethically made.
Choosing sustainable and ethically made clothes can have a number of benefits.
Environmental impact
Sustainable and ethically made clothes are produced in ways that have a lower environmental impact, such as using sustainable materials, reducing waste, and using renewable energy.
Human rights
Ethically made clothes are produced in a way that respects the rights of workers, including fair wages, safe working conditions, and no child labor.
Consumer health
Sustainable and ethically made clothes are made with non-toxic and natural materials, which is healthier for you to wear.
Long-lasting
Sustainable and ethically made clothes are made with higher-quality materials and construction, making them longer-lasting and more durable, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
Support local communities
Choosing sustainable and ethically made clothes that are produced locally can help to support local communities and economies.
Promote transparency
Sustainable and ethically made clothes come with more transparent production processes and supply chains, which makes it easier for you to make informed choices about the clothes you buy.
Align with personal values
Choosing sustainable and ethically made clothes may align with personal values such as environmental responsibility, social justice, and animal welfare.
It's important to note that the term "sustainable" and "ethically made" can have different meanings, and it's important to research and understand the specific practices and certifications used by the specific brand or manufacturer. Certifications such as Fair Trade, Organic Cotton, GOTS, etc. can be good indicators of sustainable and ethical production practices.
5. Take Steps Towards a Healthier You
Walking 10,000 steps per day is a popular fitness goal that has a number of benefits.
Improve cardiovascular health
This is a low-impact exercise that can help to improve cardiovascular health by increasing heart rate and blood flow.
Enhance weight management 🚶
Burn calories and promote weight loss. Taking 10,000 steps per day can help to increase energy expenditure, which is beneficial for weight management.
Improve mental health
Reduce stress by walking. Walking can be a great way to clear your mind and boost your mood.
Increase muscle strength
You can strengthen your legs and core muscles by walking making legs look toned and defined.
Improve bone health
Walking can help to increase bone density, to reducing the risk of osteoporosis and other bone-related diseases.
Increase flexibility and balance
improve your flexibility and balance and reduce the risk of falls and injury.
Enhance longevity
Regular walking can help to increase lifespan. Studies have shown that regular physical activity, such as walking, can help to lower the risk of chronic diseases and prolong life.
It's important to note that 10,000 steps a day is a rough guideline and that it is different for every individual. People with different fitness levels, medical conditions, and lifestyles may require different step counts to achieve the same health benefits. It's also important to check with your healthcare professional before starting any new exercise program.
6. Eat One Vegetarian Meal a Day
Most of us don't eat enough greens and fruit. Give your diet a boost and eliminate meat one meal a day.
Improve heart health
Plant-based diets, which are high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, are associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Eating one vegetarian meal a day helps to increase your intake of these healthy foods.
Boost nutrient intake 🍏
Fiber, vitamins, and minerals, are essential for overall health. Eating one vegetarian meal a day helps to increase the intake of these beneficial nutrients.
Reduce the risk of certain cancers
Some studies have shown that a plant-based diet may be associated with a lower risk of certain types of cancer. Eating one vegetarian meal a day can help to increase your intake of cancer-fighting plant compounds.
Improve digestion
Eating one vegetarian meal a day can help increase your intake of fiber, improving digestion and regularity.
Lower the environmental impact
Eating meat and dairy can have a significant impact on the environment, by increasing greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, water and land use. Eating one vegetarian meal a day can help to reduce your environmental footprint.
Save money
Plant-based foods are often less expensive than meat and dairy products, so eating one vegetarian meal a day can help to save money on groceries.
Expand your food choices
Eating one vegetarian meal a day can help to expand your food choices, by introducing you to new ingredients, recipes and flavours.
If you decide to eat one vegetarian meal a day, it's important to pay attention to your nutrient intake, especially protein, iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and omega-3 fatty acids, which can be harder to obtain from a vegetarian diet. Consult with a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian for personalised advice.
7. Take a Break Every Three Months
Even if you can't travel far four times a year, make sure to give yourself a weekend break once in a while. A break in the routine will help you feel more positive and motivated throughout the year.
Taking a break can have a number of benefits.
Improve mental and emotional well-being
Taking a break can help to reduce stress and anxiety. Having regular breaks can help to prevent burnout and improve overall well-being.
Enhance productivity
Taking a break can help to refresh the mind and body, which can increase focus and productivity when returning to work.
Improve physical health
Taking a break can help to reduce the negative effects of prolonged sitting, such as back pain and poor posture. It can also help to increase physical activity and improve overall health.
Enhance creativity
Taking a break can help to stimulate creativity and new ideas.
Improve relationships
Taking a break can help to improve relationships by giving you the opportunity to focus on non-work activities and spend time with family and friends.
Improve work-life balance
Taking a break can help to improve work-life balance, by giving you the opportunity to focus on non-work activities and prioritise your personal well-being.
Expand your perspective
Taking a break can help to expand your perspective, by giving you the chance to get away from your routine and gain new experiences, which can inspire new ideas and new ways of thinking.
It's important to note that the frequency and duration of the breaks may depend on the individual's work schedule, work demands, and personal preferences. Additionally, it's important to plan the break in advance and use it effectively to disconnect from work and relax.
