2018
No matter how small the first step, you have crossed the start line!
Welcome to a New Year and a new resolution.
Exciting right? Starting with a clean slate. Determined and motivated to change. Here are a few tips to ensure your resolution gets off to the right start.
New Years resolutions do get a tough start. Despite the motivation and determination, the 1st of January is just not a good day to start eating healthy, join a gym or anything else that requires a clear head. Being a public holiday doesn’t help either. And so, the enthusiasm at the stroke of midnight quickly transforms to a ‘I will start that tomorrow’. And tomorrow becomes next Monday, next month and suddenly its time to toast in another New Year. Sound familiar?
Here is what you can do to get off to a good start. Take action…… Do something, anything, that is in line with your resolution, so when you go to bed tonight, you feel satisfied that you have started your journey. Take imperfect action.
Here are some ideas to get you started today;
I want to start exercising ->
- Go for a walk, even a short one.
- Find a gym you want to join.
- Email a personal trainer asking them to call you on a preferred day.
- Check your workout wardrobe is ready for you.
I want to eat better ->
- Say no to something unhealthy today.
- Make a meal plan for the week.
- Write a shopping list.
- Cull your supplies of bad food (use the bin, not you).
I want to lose weight ->
- Do any of the above.
- Find something in your wardrobe, you want to fit into again.
I want to get on top of my finances ->
- Find a budget tool that meet your needs.
- Write out new purchasing habits, such as “I will sleep on decision for any item over $_____”, “Any impulse purchases such as clothes, shoes or other, even an awesome bargain, I will come back after 60 min”
- Start a list of fixed expenses.
I want to spend more time with family and friends ->
- Eat at the dinner table and talk about your day (no TV on).
- Pick a date and invite friends for dinner.
- Skype/call a distant family member to wish them happy New Year.
I want to enjoy life more ->
- Spent 10 min undisturbed to think about the great things that have occurred in the last week.
- Ask yourself what you will enjoy most today.
- Spent time over meals each sharing 3 great things that happened today.
I want to get more organised ->
- Decide today how much time you will allocate and when. Even 10 min a day will be great. Tie it in with something you do regularly such as brush your teeth or eat dinner.
- Spent your first 10 min today unsubscribing from emails you no longer read or fill one bag with clothes you no longer wear or organise one cupboard in the kitchen. You can pick a different thing each time.
You get the idea? Whatever your New Years Resolution is, think of something you can do now, however small, to get you started TODAY! It may not rock the boat but achieving a small task is better than not starting on a big one. The impact on your mindset is a giant leap to feeling success is possible.
Remember, the first step is always the hardest, so make it small and step up to the challenge.
