Happy New Year! Now that we’ve had a moment to take a breather after the holidays, I thought I’d take a minute to talk about New Year Resolutions. Some people love them, while others hate them.
I think they’re good as a ‘guideline’ to help set goals. We seek to make positive changes that will leave us better off. I like to reflect back over the previous year and look for ways in which I can refresh or improve in the coming one.
I think the problem people run into with resolutions is when they set unrealistic goals or try doing too much too quick.
When you keep it simple and start with small steps, you’re more likely to enjoy it. You’re also more likely to stick with your resolutions, which is the whole point!
So I’m sharing some simple New Years Resolutions to help you start your year off strong. I’m even sharing a few of mine for this year:) And I’ll also give you some fun tips and ideas for getting these accomplished!
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Simple New Years Resolutions
drink more water
Instead of taking something away, think about something you can add to your life to make it healthier. And what’s easier than trying to add a little more water to our life?! It’s so good for us, but many of us don’t drink enough.
It’s something I’m working on this year too; we even just invested in a reverse osmosis water filter for our kitchen sink. It not only filters out a bunch of unwanted substances found in water, but I think it also tastes better too.
I also found this gallon sized water bottle on Amazon to help stay motivated. It comes in a bunch of colors and has a handle & carrying strap for when you’re on-the-go. If you prefer a smaller size water bottle, there’s also a half gallon one too. This one’s another favorite of mine.
move more
For many, we know it’s beneficial to workout, but it’s often hard to find the motivation to get started. You don’t need an expensive gym membership or lofty goals of working out every day, especially if you’ve not been doing much.
Maybe try starting out by adding in stretching or even just walking up and down your street or around your neighborhood a few times a week.
There are so many streaming programs available online now, or you could try playing a sport like tennis, with a friend. If you find things you enjoy doing that help you move more, you’re going to want to do these things, and be more likely to stick with them.
And for me, there’s nothing more motivating for working out like new workout clothes! This latest outfit from Amazon is my current favorite! Below I’ve listed a bunch of Amazon activewear under $30, but you can also find more Amazon Essentials for Working out at Home in this blog post <HERE>.
workout tank | leggings | water bottle
eat healthier
Many people make a New Year resolution to eat healthier or to lose weight. It’s great to say we want to eat healthier. But what are some ways to actually eat healthier?
Detox your pantry:
throw away the junk! If the junk food isn’t in your pantry, then you won’t be tempted to eat it. The New Year is a great time for organizing your pantry and giving it a refresh. Stocking it with healthier food options and having it organized will set you up for better success.
Make some healthy snacks:
- hard boiled eggs: the kids and I love hard boiled eggs, and they make a great snack. This egg cooker is on my wish list to simplify the process.
- popcorn: I buy bags of organic popcorn kernels and place a few tablespoons of them in a brown paper bag. I then microwave for a few minutes and get freshly popped popcorn.
- DIY trail mix: we buy several different types of nuts in the bulk bin section of the grocery store. We roast them (but you can skip this step) and mix together. I eat the mixture alone, with some fruit, or with a few chocolate chips as a snack.
- smoothies: Smoothies are a great way to eat more fruits and veggies. I try to watch the amount of fruit we put in ours so we aren’t consuming too much sugar. We tend to throw in greens like spinach, fruits like bananas or apples, and other veggies like celery, carrots, and cucumbers. Once blended with water or coconut water, we add ice and blend again.
- banana popsicles: I peel several bananas and cut them in half. I stick a popsicle stick in the wider end of each and place them on a parchment lined tray and place in the freezer. After a few hours I drizzle some melted chocolate on them and freeze a little longer until the chocolate is hard. These make a great alternative to ice cream or store bought popsicles.
When we were first married, my husband and I started making smoothies with a handheld immersion blender. Then we later bought a Ninja blender, and now have a Vitamix which has been our favorite.
Vitamix blender for making smoothies (all models HERE)
My New Years Resolutions
Meditate at least 3 times a week
My goal is to meditate (even if for a few minutes) in either the morning or evening at least 3 times a week.
Meditation is something I tried over the last few years and found very beneficial and enjoyable. It’s something I want to be more consistent with this year.
I have several apps on my phone that I use; my favorite being the Insight Timer. The other ones I downloaded and have enjoyed are 10 Percent, and Calm.
Journal/Goal setting
I’m working on being more mindful this year. I found this gratitude notepad that has prompts to fill out and takes only a few minutes each day. Starting this year, I began filling it out each morning and I’ve found it to be an enjoyable way to start the day on such a positive note.
I also found a goals and habits weekly tracker to help me stay organized. It helps me track my progress and stay focused on my goals between work and family life, and allows me to track the habits I’m working on (like drinking water, gratitude, etc.) — all in the same place!
There were a bunch of different planners/trackers from the same brand, but this one worked best for me with what I’m focusing on. The other ones can be found <HERE>.
use my crock pot more
I love crockpot meals because they’re easy, delicious and they allow me to multitask! I haven’t been using my crockpot as much as I’d like. That’s because I was storing it on a shelf high up in one of my cabinets that made it out of reach.
So I moved it to a lower cabinet that I can easily access. My goal is to use my crockpot at least twice a month now.
If you’re looking to make some crockpot meals too, I did a 12 Days of Crock Pot Recipes series last year on the blog. I’ll be referencing those recipes myself when I get to cooking this year!
get more sleep
I’m aiming for 8 hours of sleep a night. This is the New Year resolution that’s going to be the hardest for me since I’m such a night owl!
I knew sleep was important, but after listening to Matthew Walker’s Masterclass, ‘The Science of Better Sleep’, I really want and need to make sleep more of a priority!
For more style and healthy living ideas, make sure to follow me here in the LIKEtoKNOW.it shopping app!
And don’t forget to share this post or pin it for later! Wishing you luck with your New Year Resolutions & Goals — and hope you have a happy and healthy New Year!
XO – Meatball Mom
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