2018 is going to be a wonderful year, especially if you choose the New Year's Resolution to be happier. It requires taking care of yourself through small tasks that add up to one fantastic result. Although the concept is simple, choosing to be happier offers opportunities that can be life-changing. Try implementing these small steps:
Surround Yourself with Positive
Choose to spend your time with people that are encouraging, uplifting, supportive and caring for you. Positive attitudes are contagious!
Stick to Honesty
It’s important to be honest with yourself and to set realistic goals that are achievable and maintainable over time. Setting out with a maximum goal may be too advantageous and chances are you’ll be hard on yourself if you falter. If going to the gym every day is too difficult, consider something more suitable to your lifestyle such as a family walk after dinner or a game of tag in the yard with the kids. Set yourself up for success!
Get Adequate Sleep
The amount of sleep you get greatly influences your performance throughout the day. Healthy adults require between seven to nine hours of sleep. If you are getting less than the recommended amount, you will: have less energy to do the task you hope to do, be more irritable, have an increase in appetite, and impair the function of your immune system. When you have energy from getting quality sleep, you’re more likely to exercise which releases endorphins that minimize stress and maximize happiness.
Eat Well to Be Well
When you eat well you’re likely to lose weight and that will make you feel great! You’ll be cutting your risk to diabetes and heart disease. Losing weight also lowers stress hormones which means better sleep and more energy.
Make Big Goals and Break Them Down
The best formula for a New Years’ resolution is to break it into smaller more obtainable goals. For those planning on joining a gym, try going a few days a week and adding more time as you adapt to your new routine. If you want to lose 30 pounds - instead of focusing on the larger number unhappily for months, break it down to losing 3 pounds per month. Then break that down into even smaller daily and weekly goals. If you want to be happier and achieve your resolutions, you will find crossing things off your to-do list every day is a tangible reward.
The New Year is an opportunity to choose to be happier. You can make changes starting today by: spending time with others whom are happy, setting honest goals, getting a good night’s sleep, eating healthy and focusing on goals you can break into parts. You’ve got this!