It’s that time of year again – time to set goals for the next 12 months. Although New Year’s resolutions are not well-known, they really shouldn’t be. With the big holidays behind us, January offers a fresh start and the freedom to say goodbye to everything that happened in 2024 and adopt some new habits that will improve your quality of life. It’s all a matter of setting the right, realistic New Year’s resolutions.
In order to set good goals, it is important that they are ambitious but also realistic – something you want to achieve and believe you can achieve. If you choose a goal that is too difficult or one that requires drastic changes in your daily life, you will quickly feel frustrated and may give up.
It’s better to choose a goal that you can break down into small, clear steps. When you focus on small changes, the goal will not seem daunting and will be easier to achieve.
The first step is to figure out exactly what you want and make a New Year’s resolution in relation to that. Some people want to improve their health, for example, to change their sleeping patterns, while others want to reorganize their home.
Look at the suggestions that are realistic and choose the one that will help you feel better, either physically or mentally. And don’t forget – if you fail today, tomorrow is a new day to keep going.
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Get enough sleep
Put sleep high on your priority list. Lack of sleep can cause a variety of problems, from poor memory to problems with the immune system.
Fortunately, there are many ways to improve your sleep routine other than simply going to bed earlier. Some ideas for better sleep: adjust your evening routine, pay attention to caffeine intake, exercise more and follow these tips all year round.
Schedule check-ups with the doctor
Open your calendar app (or planner!) and schedule all your appointments for the entire year in advance. This way you will get rid of stress and it is less likely that you will forget them due to daily obligations.
Start with your GP and ask what tests (such as mammography, colonoscopy, etc.) you need to have. Then, make an appointment with a dentist and ophthalmologist.
Grow plants
Stop by the garden center after lunch this weekend. The mere presence of houseplants can reduce stress levels in people, research shows, and one study found that active plant care calms the autonomic nervous system and lowers blood pressure.
And when people work near plants, they witness better concentration, general satisfaction and better air quality.
Use the stairs daily
Take 10 minutes of your time during the day and climb the stairs at the office, at home or in the park. Research published in the journal Physiology & Behavior showed that women who climbed the stairs for 10 minutes had a greater increase in energy than those who drank a soda or half a cup of coffee (and burned calories in the process!).
Stop putting off hard decisions
Stress over an important life decision often causes people to stop and take no action. Stress and anxiety are known to reduce mental capacity, and a big change requires a lot of energy to properly consider it.
The irony is that procrastination only increases stress and starts a vicious cycle. This year, empower yourself to “cut” and start making tough decisions, which can help you get out of this loop.
Give yourself more compliments
Repeat to yourself, “Today is my day and I am grateful.” Positive self-talk can help you focus on what is good in your life.
Research shows that a little vitamin G (for gratitude) can make you feel happier and more content, and even improve your sleep. If you repeat an affirmation about gratitude in the morning, you’re likely to show and feel it more throughout the day.
Go outside without your phone
According to the survey, 83% of people said they lose track of the time they spend on their devices. However, aside from deleting social networks, it can be difficult to replace screen time with a more productive activity, such as walking the dog or coffee with friends.
Whether you’re using an iPhone or Android, update your phone’s software to use built-in tools that help you track how much time you spend on apps.
What is your next New Year’s resolution?
Source: www.agromedia.rs
