Out With the Old, In With the New

 

As another year closes and a fresh year begins, I find myself reflecting on that old adage, “Out with the old, in with the new.” I believe that it is incredibly worthwhile to regularly ask what we want to do away with and what we want to do new or differently. Consider the alterations not necessarily in a “New Year’s resolutions” way, but more of a life-transforming way.  

My desire is to create a healthier and happier year for myself and those I love, so this month I will be toying with ideas for establishing new habits. Whether you want to lose weight or save money, let me encourage you to join me and borrow a few of these routines to make your life richer and more productive.

CREATE IT:
It has been said that if you consistently do something for 21 days, it becomes a habit. A trainer friend of mine challenges those who attend her classes to just get up and do it and encourages them to commit to exercise for at least a month. Just like anything else, the first time is really hard, but once it’s part of your routine, it’s easier.

JOURNAL IT:
Journaling your thoughts, hopes and prayers about creating healthy and happy habits can be motivational as well as cathartic.

For example, sometimes just the act of writing down what you do or do not put in your mouth and the amount of exercise you accomplish can make all the difference. A written budget and tracking of your expenditures will also help hold you accountable.
VISUALIZE IT:
In the same way your journal allows you to put your dreams down on paper in a concrete form, creating a picture in your mind of what those changes will look like is also helpful. A real picture is equally helpful. If creating a healthier, slimmer you is your goal, post a picture of you at your best on the refrigerator as a visual reminder. Or if saving for a magical vacation is your goal, tack up a picture of some tropical paradise by the computer or on your car visor before you go shopping and are tempted to overspend.

PLAN IT:
There is, perhaps, no better word in the English language to better illustrate how you can incorporate healthy habits into your everyday life. A little planning goes a long way, as most good habits aren’t created by accident. From developing a healthy body to developing healthy relationships, the habits associated with them take effort that must be scheduled into busy lives. To eat healthy, for example, it would help to set aside time to draft a menu, make a grocery list, go to the store, prepare meals, and pack breakfast, lunch and especially snacks. The best time to snack is when you are hungry between meals, but beware—cravings could easily be mistaken for hunger cues, especially for people who are dieting.

MOVE IT:
I’m not talking about taking the time out of your busy schedule to work out—that’s important, too—but try to incorporate movement into your everyday activities. Every 20 steps a person takes is one calorie burned. And there are plenty of opportunities to get moving, including taking the stairs, parking farther away from an entrance or even window shopping in our amazing downtown. Try leaving your desk and visiting with your coworkers instead of sending an e-mail or walk and talk with friends instead of meeting for a meal.

REST IT:
“Your body has to have enough time to rest,” says Michael Fleming, MD, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Otherwise, he says you may find yourself feeling cranky and tired. This may sound like common sense, but according to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), more than two-thirds of older adults suffer from sleep problems and many American adults don’t get the minimum amount of shuteye needed to stay alert. Sleep is vital to good health and to mental and emotional well-being. The NSF reports that people who don’t get enough slumber are more likely than others to develop psychiatric problems and to use health care services. Plus, sleep deprivation can negatively affect memory, learning and logical reasoning.

CHANGE IT:
Consider whether or not you have unhealthy habits that cause unhappiness in your life. If you’re not sure if your habits are working for you, look at how they make you feel physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually because that will help provide some indication. You may even ask a friend or family member for their suggestions on what habit or habits you might need to break. Just remember to consider the source and take their opinion and intentions into account before bristling or even embracing their advice.