New Year, New You! Start Planning Your Self-Improvement Early

It’s not all too long until the New Year now, so it’s about time that you start considering what your new year’s resolutions might be. A new year’s resolution should aim to remove an undesirable or unwanted trait from your character over the coming year. However, most people tend fall flat on their resolutions within a week or so. Why? Because they are often made in haste and without dedication. So instead of mustering up a quick idea as the clock strikes midnight, why not be a little more organised. Sit down and think what you’d really like to change about yourself. Consider something that will make a huge positive impact on your life. If you have a month or so now to mull over what you really want to alter, chances are that you’ll be so dedicated to the cause by the time 2018 comes around that you’ll actually stick to what you intend to do. If you’re struggling for ideas, don’t worry. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Cut Out Drinking

Sure a glass of wine here and there isn’t a problem. But the festive season really can highlight the sheer volume of alcohol that some people will drink during social events, over meals, or simply within the comfort of their own home. Most people think that alcohol has no problems whatsoever as long as binge drinking is avoided. But this isn’t necessarily true. Alcohol can prove to be extremely addictive and when consumed by certain people can instill anger and hostility, or result in poorly made decisions. It also reduces your reaction times and thus prevents you from doing certain things like driving. If you’re considering cutting out alcohol but struggling, don’t worry. There are people who can help you along each and every step of the way. Take a look at the Serenity at Summit Detox Program for some inspiration.

Exercise

It’s so easy to become lazy over the festive period. It’s cold outside and staying home in the warm with the heating and cosy pyjamas on can’t really be beaten. But this is one of the main reasons that people tend to put on so much weight over Christmas and then have to hit the gym hard in January. Instead, why not dedicate at least three days a week to engaging with some sort of exercise for at least half an hour or forty-five minutes? This will ensure that you remain fit and healthy and don’t have to work yourself into the ground later on.

There are plenty of ways to keep toasty and exercise effectively in the winter months. If you’re one for jogging, invest in some specialist running trousers and a lightweight but insulated jacket. You should ensure that this is also waterproof in case of any sudden downpours while you’re out and about. Alternatively, take up a gym membership and work out indoors, protected from the elements. Then there are at-home workouts, such as yoga, pilates, or a combination of both. All you need for these is a yoga mat and a tutorial. It’s as simple as that! Keep in mind that with minimal effort, you still have the potential to see really big results. Even in the comfort of your own home, starting whatever form of exercise you are interested in can get you happier and healthier in no time. While you may be asking questions like can you get results from doing pilates at home? As long as you stay consistent with a good routine, you will see significant improvements.

Eat Healthily

In terms of your diet, it’s easy to let yourself go around Christmas. You’re seriously prone to eating not-so-healthy snacks. Who can blame you? There are so many delicious things around, from candy canes to mince pies and more cheeses than you could ever wish for. Again, this can result in you putting on a whole lot of weight and finding yourself feeling overweight and down as the new year begins. But things don’t have to be this way! The key to eating healthily over this time is self-control and moderation. You don’t have to deny yourself all of the delicious foodstuffs that are offered to you. But you can also say no every now and then. Pick and choose treats sensibly. If you have two options at hand and one has significantly fewer calories, or a lower fat or sugar content, take that one. Make sure that you get your three square meals and five a day into yourself too! It’s easy to fill up on vegetables now that the temperatures have dropped. Consider making fresh vegetable soups or stews to warm yourself up in the evenings. These can also be frozen, so why not make up a large batch and freeze the leftovers in single use Tupperware containers. This will save you time and money on your work lunch breaks. Bonus!

So, rather than waiting until New Year’s Eve to come up with your resolutions, why not start planning ahead now?