As 2019 draws near, it’s a great time to evaluate your goals and reflect on your biggest accomplishments.
New Year's resolutions are a great way to kick off a new calendar year. You can set health goals, personal goals, relationship goals, and more.
Your New Year's resolutions list doesn't need to be long, but it should be personal.
According to a recent Offers.com survey, the number one 2019 resolution is losing weight and exercising more. The second most popular response? Saving money.
Whether you want to eat healthier, save money, or lose weight, a resolution can help you set the intention to get it done.
Unsure of what goals to set for 2019?
Here’s seven easy resolutions to consider:
1. Eat Healthier
There’s no better time than the new year to start eating healthier. After a junk food holiday season, the new year is a great time to give your body a break. You don't have to go full vegan or try an extreme diet to see benefits. Adding more leafy greens to your meals or even eating less are two simple ways to eat healthier.
Action steps:
- Add more greens to your diet
- Cut out fast food
- Skip packaged, processed foods
New Year’s Challenge: When you eat healthier, you’re likely to see weight loss even before starting an exercise routine. Strive to have vegetables at each meal.
2. Stress Less
Easier said than done, right? If there’s one resolution to try to stick to the best, this one is it. Too much stress leads to chronic health issues like depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, and other issues. Throughout stressful days, check-in with yourself. Deep breathing, calling a friend, or just taking a stroll in nature can give you some relief.
Action steps:
- Take daily walks alone
- Write your thoughts down
- Connect with loved ones
New Year’s Challenge: Whatever helps you unwind and decompress, try to do it at least once a week.
3. Protect Your Skin
Protecting yourself from skin cancer is relatively easy: wear sunscreen daily. As soon as you step out of the shower in the morning, apply it all over. Or, do it as part of your morning routine — like right after brushing your teeth so you won’t forget. If you can’t stay out of the sun, at least avoid it between the hours of 10am and 4pm when the sun is the most intense. And, even in the winter, wear sunscreen as the sun’s rays are still powerful enough to do damage.
Action steps:
- Wear sunscreen daily (SPF 30 or higher)
- Apply sunscreen to all exposed areas
- Avoid tanning beds
New Year’s Challenge: Your skin is your largest organ, and protecting it will keep your skin healthier along with the rest of your body. Put sunscreen on your counter as a daily reminder to use it. Set a reminder if it helps you do it.
4. Schedule Annual Appointments
Going to the doc might not sound like a fun New Year's resolution, but it’s a necessary one. Keep your health in check from the start of the year to avoid a health crisis later on due to avoiding annual checkups.
Action steps:
- Write a list of your annual check-ups
- Schedule and pencil in your appointments
- Ask for a reminder call or notice, if needed
New Year’s Challenge: Set your appointments now so you don’t forget to when life gets hectic.
5. Meditate
In our fast-paced world filled with technology that requires us to be plugged in, it’s nice to unplug. When you take time to meditate, it allows you to slow down and reflect on the present moment in a purposeful manner.
Action steps:
- Set a reminder on your phone
- Take a few minutes to do deep breathing
- Extend your period of quiet time daily
New Year’s Challenge: Download apps like Calm or Headspace to make it even easier to sit and meditate.
6. Catch Quality ZZZs
If you regularly skip over good sleep, you’re also skipping over good health. Studies show that sleep deprivation has both short- and long-term consequences on the body. Losing good sleep impacts memory, mood, and judgement along with causing even deeper health issues. Sleep deprivation leads to a risk of issues like diabetes, obesity, and more.
Action steps:
- Turn off electronics an hour before bed
- Stick to your usual routine
- Invest in a quality pillow and mattress
New Year’s Challenge: Hit the sack when you’re tired. When you wake up refreshed, you can focus better on your to-do list.
7. Cut Out Sugar
This one doesn’t always seem easy when you consider sugar is hiding in many foods. Not surprisingly, the average American eats an average of 57 pounds of sugar a year. Eating more than the daily recommended limit (no more than 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men) leads to obesity and sugar cravings.
Action steps:
- Cut out sugary drinks like soda
- Look at labels for sugar (AKA high fructose corn syrup, dried cane syrup, etc. )
- Remove white and brown sugar from your kitchen
New Year’s Challenge: Cut out added sugar for a week and see how you feel. Write down symptoms as you go along, and see how your health improves once you’ve cut back on sugar.
New Year, New You
Setting New Year's resolutions doesn't have to be hard. Ask yourself what areas of your life you want to most improve on, and go from there to create your list. With 2019 as your blank slate, you get to decide how you want to spend your days to achieve your resolutions.
Every goal takes effort, so you'll also want to create action steps for each resolution you set. By taking time each day to work on your goals, you’ll gain a sense of accomplishment as you get closer to the end result.
What’s the next step?
Grab a notebook and pen to start writing out your dream resolutions list. No goal is too big or too small. Use the ideas above to get started, and you’ll have a solid New Year’s resolutions list before 2019 arrives.
What does your New Year’s resolutions list look like? Share and inspire others in the comments below!
