Please don’t think I’m getting soft on you and suggesting you don’t put forth the effort to pursue your New Year’s Resolutions this year. Drive and determination are two of my favorite words and they both play a vital role in going forward with your 2012 goals.
If you haven’t written down your 2012 health resolutions yet, I am encouraging you to do so as soon as you finish reading this paper. Write as many goals down as you can think of, then streamline them to your top four. Choose one of those to begin to work on today. That’s right, I said today. You can pick an easy one. Maybe it’s to put all of the workout videos that you don’t use on Craigslist. At least clear them off your shelf and put them in a bag. You can give then to a friend whose resolution is to begin working out at home.
Perhaps you can take your gym membership off of the freeze”you put it on when you got too busy to go during the Christmas season. How about working on improving your posture. Sit up straight, pull your shoulders back, hold in your abs (stomach) and smile. You will feel better immediately and even more motivated to move to the next resolution. Just remember to practice your posture every day. Put a note at your computer, mirror, steering wheel – anywhere that you need to be reminded. Have someone take a candid picture of you when you don’t know it so you can see how you sit or stand when you don’t know anyone is looking. It’s just a suggestion. You can place that picture in front of you as a reminder, too.
By “baby steps” I mean that it is better to pace yourself and establish the change in your behaviors, habits, patterns and lifestyle to make sure they will become a permanent part of your “new you”. Too often we come out of the gate running full speed ahead and burn out before the first month is over. This year I suggest that you take small steps and create an environment for success.
Here are some additional health resolution suggestions:
Eat at the kitchen or dining room table – not while driving or in front of the TV or computer. You will find you will eat less and enjoy your food more. Chances are you will lose weight because you will consume fewer calories.
Always leave something on your plate (not just the fork and napkin). The “clean your plate club” has disbanded and the starving children are being fed, so you can stop feeling guilty about leaving some food. For the green enthusiasts, you can use the leftover food as mulch. Chat with the Plant Lady for details.
Be consistent with your schedule. Get up and go to bed at regular times each day –even on your day off (you will have more time to do whatever you want!). Your body functions at peak level when you treat it with consistency.
Breathe. Be conscious of your breathing. Don’t short yourself of full, rich, deep cleansing breaths. They help your systems function with greater proficiency. You will be able to handle and even release stress and tension from your body. You may even lose weight by increasing your metabolism with dedicated deep breathing exercises.
Move. Make yourself move for some portion of the day. It has been suggested that we take 10,000 steps a day to stay in shape. If that is out of your scope right now, start with a 1,000 and work up from there.
Remove the health risks from your life. Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, too much sun, not enough sun (vitamin D), white sugar, sugar substitutes, high fat, preservatives. Just pick one at a time to eliminate or improve in your life.
Trade in your negative thinking for positive thinking. I know you hate to hear it, but it is a choice. Your attitude, reaction, moods, etc. are all a choice. Make a dedicated, deliberate choice each day to think good things about yourself and those around you. Even the person who cuts in front of you in traffic – perhaps they are rushing to the hospital to see a dying relative and were preoccupied.
If you choose to think the best of others and of situations, you will improve your health. So many of our health issues are caused by emotional trauma and stress, and how you handle it is your choice.
Take baby steps this month with one or two of your resolutions and choose a new one when you have completed those. Continue this throughout 2012 and this will be the healthiest, most fulfilling year you’ve had in a long time. Happy New Year.