New Year is traditionally the time for resolution-making – but what, if anything, will you commit to doing in 2018, and why? Will you be forsaking cigarettes or cutting out alcohol for Dry January, perhaps you’re one of the thousands of people planning to take part in Veganuary this year? While giving up harmful habits can have undeniable health benefits, taking up new things can feel like a much more positive way to step into the New Year. So, if you were to make New Year’s resolutions of something to take up or do more of what would it be? Here are three worthwhile suggestions to get you started…
Improve your sleep
Sleep can have such an all-pervasive impact on our lives. Sleep badly for one night and it can impact your mood, productivity, relationships, diet and exercise the next day. If you suffer longer-term sleep issues you could feel a series of negative effects as a result. Whether you’re simply trying to pack so much in that you often burn the candle at both ends and don’t make it into bed at a decent time or you’re unlucky enough to be plagued with anxiety or sleep disorders that keep you awake, make 2018 the year you concentrate on improving the quality of your sleep.
Poor sleep is associated with health issues such as weight gain and depression, so the importance of getting a decent night’s sleep should never be underestimated. If you need help getting to sleep or staying asleep, SleepBubble is a resource where you’ll find lots of information about sleep and sleep issues.
Find an outlet
Do you have something you look forward to doing every day or at least once a week? A time that you can really relish? We don’t all have jobs we love and find rewarding, and while changing careers is a popular route to take when it comes to New Year’s resolutions, could finding an appropriate outlet benefit you even more? Sometimes finding a creative or rewarding project or pastime to focus on can complement our day job and open up new avenues and possibilities for the future.
From taking an evening class through to training for a race, could you set your own challenge and make opportunities for yourself for the year ahead? It may be as simple as dedicating more time to something you already love or reconnecting with a hobby that you’ve loved in the past. Is now the time to join your local netball club or set up the kind of mum’s group you’d like to go to in your area, maybe you’d like to show your blog a little more love? Expanding your mind, social sphere or abilities are all great goals to get on board with.
Practice self-care
After the hustle and bustle of the festive period, taking a little time out can be just what the doctor ordered. But is this something you should be thinking about doing throughout the coming months too? Being able to recognise when you’re burning out is really important. As well as committing your time to do interesting things you enjoy, it’s equally as vital to know when doing nothing at all is your best option.
If you’re the kind of person who always likes to be productive it can be hard to recognise the benefits of taking time out to do simple things like painting your nails, running a bubble bath or even having a Netflix binge, but looking after yourself by factoring downtime into your schedule helps ensure you’re not running on empty. If doing nothing at all is something you struggle with, you may find learning mindfulness techniques or taking a gentle yoga class can help you find your inner calm.
One of the biggest reasons people fail to maintain New Year’s resolutions is that they go so hard and fast at them when the New Year comes round that they quickly lose steam. So if you want to make changes for next year, why not take gentle steps to get those wheels in motion now?
