Tips to Starting Your New Year off Right

I appreciate a new year because it can be seen as a clean slate. A reason to reassess or re-evaluate what’s working in your life and what’s not. Some years I make a lot of changes while others not so many. But regardless, the new year is a time to stop, pause and reflect. Below are a few tips on how to start your new year off on the right foot.

1. Set an intention: It is hard to know where you are going without any direction. So, set an intention for the week, or the month, or the year - whatever you feel most comfortable with. A little secret I have? The interval class is hard for me. I’ve never really been a person that loves cardiovascular exercise. I do it - but not very frequently. One of my intentions for this month is to take 2 interval classes a week and push myself past my comfort zone.

2. Start your day off on the right foot: When you start your day off with a green juice, a great workout or that moment to yourself, it is so much easier to stay on track for the rest of the day. When we start off on a bad foot, our mind tells us “tomorrow is a new day, you can begin then.” One of the best ways to begin your day for overall good health is to have a large glass of warm water with lemon. I also add turmeric and cayenne pepper to mine. It is great for alkaline balance, detox, anti-inflammation, skin clearing and hydration. I’m sure the list goes on. It’s so much easier to stay on track when you’ve begun the day that way.

3. Go to bed earlier: I know - there’s a lot going on, especially coming back from the holidays, and the evening’s are when it’s oftentimes easier to get things done without distraction. But if you get the right amount of sleep, you are way more likely to be sharp and efficient, and you work faster and more effectively than if you are powering through while under slept. I honestly make it a habit to go to bed as soon as I get down all my kids - usually 9PM. I’ll read for a while before I go to sleep but anything I haven’t finished before that time can wait until tomorrow.

4. Be mindful: Do you have a tendency to eat a meal on the go or multi-task? If so, you’ll be amazed at how more efficient you are when you are mindful in your actions. When you try to talk on the phone and type an email at the same time, you find that not only are you not really listening, but you also end up with a bunch of typo’s; when you eat a meal while doing 10 other things, you are much more likely to eat more. So, challenge yourself to simplify - do one thing at a time and give your focus and attention to that one thing.

5. Have fun: If you are trying to implement a new eating or workout plan, make sure you are truly enjoying it. If you aren’t modify it so that you do!  Short-term habit changes are much more likely to stick if you’re having fun.

Best wishes in 2014!

-- Jill