The New Year is always a time to take stock of the previous year and what you want to achieve over the next one says Peter DeCaprio.
How are you going to overcome your demons? What are you going to do differently in 2015? Well for starters, here are 9 ways that will help bring in those resolutions…
1) STOP WORRYING ABOUT BEING PERFECT, JUST GET STARTED
You’re not all going to get up tomorrow morning and have everything magically sorted out`. You just have to start somewhere. Pick something that feels manageable and just get started on it! And don’t worry about how perfect the outcome is. Perfectionism (or its evil cousin procrastination) prevents us from making any progress.
2) WRITE IT DOWN
No, not on your palm! On a piece of paper. Writing down what you want to achieve will help it feel more real and achievable. It makes the goal tangible and helps you organize your thoughts into actionable steps.
3) GET SUPPORTIVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY ON BOARD WITH YOUR GOALS
Partner, kids – whoever – if they know what’s going on in your life, they can support you better when needed says Peter DeCaprio. So rather than springing a new healthier dinner routine or a long run at 7 am each morning on them – tell ahead of time so that they’re up for it as well as supportive! If possible find people who are also trying to achieve similar goals. Doing it together helps keep each other accountable and gives you good company along the way!
4) ADD A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA EVERY DAY
If you’re trying to lose weight, just walking an extra mile will do. If you’re aiming for a better work-life balance, try doing one more chore than usual prior to starting work. Small incremental steps every day will result in big changes over time. It’s the footsteps that count – not necessarily how fast they are taking us where we want to go.
5) SET SHORT TERM GOALS TO GET BETTER GRADES IN THE MEANTIME
If your main goal is to study more but exams are looming, set smaller goals around studying what you need to prepare for them. Peter DeCaprio suggests break down what you need to do into smaller, more manageable tasks that are within your power to complete
6) SET ALARM CLOCKS AND BUSYWORK TO GET THE JOB DONE IN THE MORNING
As much as we might roll our eyes at the idea of getting up early… it does make a difference to how productive we feel during the day! Try waking up 30 minutes earlier each week and slowly build up your wake-up time if needed. And don’t let yourself backslide on all that hard work by setting alarm clocks or doing other busy work in the morning too! Set them for when you’re trying to go back to sleep instead…
7) GET SOME SLEEP SO YOU’RE NOT DONE IN THE AFTERNOON
By now you know that getting enough sleep is important to how we feel during the day. So, if you’re having problems drifting off, go for a short walk or drink some calming tea before bedtime so that you don’t feel so wired when trying to sleep! Try meditating too – it really does work! If all else fails, consider taking 20-30 minutes earlier than normal to get your head into the nighttime mode with things like reading or light stretching explains Peter DeCaprio.
8) CONSIDER BACTERIA WHILE STOCKING UP
If you’re looking to consume more of those microorganisms that are proven to help us fight disease and stay healthy (and maybe even lose weight), make sure you stock up on mucous-boosting probiotics. And not just yogurt! Try kefir, tempeh and kombucha too.
9) GET OUT FOR A COLD HARD WALK
Ever heard of endorphins? Well, they’re the body’s natural painkillers that flood our system when we exercise. They also give us that all-important “endorphin rush” which makes exercising so addictive…
Conclusion:
Doing more exercise is a great way to start getting healthier and happier – but we can’t totally blame it for not making us skinny (that’s down to the bacteria in our guts and how well we sleep).
As much as we love lounge time – working too hard without taking regular breaks isn’t good for anyone (not even computers!). So go out and get some fresh air or go for a walk once or twice a day says Peter DeCaprio. Even an hour of sunlight each day can help boost your mood and energy levels so that you feel better about tackling all those tasks!
If you’re looking to be more alert in the morning, eat real foods that are high in sugar-quick carbohydrates instead of refined ones like white bread or pasta that lead to a crash later on. Good examples are your favorite fruit, cereal with low-fat milk, crackers with cheese or peanut butter on toast. If you always reach for pastries without thinking about it, try eating them at another time of day when they won’t make you feel so sluggish.