Tips To Reach Your Goals This Year

It’s very easy to make a New Years’ Resolution but it can sometimes be a little more difficult to keep. Here are some helpful hints for making resolutions for sleep, exercise, and eating that are easy to stick with and will help you to be successful in the new year.

I’m Going to Get More Sleep

• Keep a Notepad and Pencil on Your Nightstand– You’re just about to fall asleep and then you think of something earth-shatteringly important that you have to do tomorrow. Instead of worrying about it all night and losing sleep, write it down and forget about it.
• Add Some Noise – Sometimes, people struggle to sleep during the night when it’s “too quiet.” Things like little creaks in the house and a dog barking outside can wake you up. Ever notice how easy it is to sleep during a rainstorm? The low, consistent sound masks all of the jarring ones. Put a quiet fan in your bedroom or add some soft music with ambient sounds of the ocean or forest.
• Ditch the Caffeine– Other than the inevitable crash, a side effect of being addicted to caffeine is that it disrupts your sleep cycle. Using it to help you wake up in the morning isn’t worth the trouble it causes later. Finding ways to wake up naturally will really help you feel better throughout the day. One trick I’ve personally found to work is putting your feet on the floor. I used to wake up, look at the alarm clock, and think, “I could sleep for another 10 minutes.” Next thing I know, it’s a half an hour later and I’m running behind. Sitting up and putting my feet on the floor tells my brain it’s time to go. Here are some other great tips for how to wake up feeling refreshed and energized.
• Add Bedtime Yoga to Your Routine – a gentle way to relax before sleep. Try these easy yoga poses before bed.

I’m Going to Exercise More 

• Join a Group– There are thousands of fitness and exercise groups around the country that involve all sorts of fun activities. It’s a great way to meet new people and make exercise fun. You’ll find that it’s much easier to accomplish a goal when you have a support network and what better than a group of people who have the same aspirations as you?
• Show Up– For a beginner, this is the hardest part of working out. Force yourself to go to the gym and after a few weeks, you’ll find yourself craving exercise. It might sound crazy but give it a try. You’ll be glad you got addicted to working out. That also means finding a gym that’s convenient and close to where you live. If you have to go an extra hour out of your way, it’s very unlikely that you’re going to make use of your membership. If you pass by it on your daily commute, gym visits will be easy to incorporate into your daily routine. Answer the call to exercise.
• Picture Your End Goal– Take some time every day to close your eyes and think about where you want to be. Whether that’s finishing a marathon or just staying active, putting that image in your mind will make it more tangible and make you want it more. Once you pick out your “carrot on the stick,” you’ll be able to reach your goal even faster.

I’m Going to Eat Better 

• Keep a Food Diary– When you’re trying to lose weight, you might feel like you’re eating better but the pounds just aren’t coming off. For each meal, record what you ate, how much, and how you felt after.
• Set Realistic Goals– You don’t have to lose 30 pounds in month. If the goal is too ambitious, you’re just going to feel bad that you didn’t reach it. Try something simple at first to help set you up for success. Achieving it will give you a great sense of accomplishment and help you establish another goal. Also, try not to focus too much on the number you see on the scale. It’s how you feel that’s important. If you have more energy and your clothes fit better, then consider it a success!
• Don’t Diet, Make A Change– The concept of a diet is that you sacrifice some of the unhealthy foods you love to eat so that you can lose weight. But what about after you reach your goal? Many people just go back to the way they were. You have to make a permanent lifestyle change, but it doesn’t have to be cutting out foods completely. It might just be eating smaller portions or eating several smaller meals instead of a few big ones.
• Don’t Forget Your Multivitamin – help fill nutrient gaps with ease. Find the right multivitamin for you and your family.

What are your New Years' Resolutions?