Add Balance to Your Resolutions
I’m a New Year’s Resolutions type of girl. Always have been. I love the idea of starting fresh and gaining a new perspective. However I can also understand those who shy away from resolutions or think they’re silly, especially if you’ve been in the habit of making resolutions only to give up on them after week 1.
But here is the thing. Week 1 of the new year is hard. Week 1 is confusing and jolting, and you’re not in your sweatpants at your mom’s house polishing off the last of the sugar cookies while she does your laundry. So add in some restrictive “resolutions” and it can begin to feel like self-inflicted torture.
That’s why I always try to add pleasant resolutions along with my more “healthy” or hard-working goals. Below I’ve added some of the most popular resolutions I’ve heard so far this year, and how you can help yourself out:
“I want to be more organized” – This is my first resolution at the start of every year. It’s easiest to break this down into smaller goals, or something in particular that you haven’t conquered yet. For me, it was my work space and office. It was a complete mess and not a place I liked to chill out. So in addition to cleaning out garbage, giving away product I don’t need and making room for new things, I also added decor elements and bought some fun prints on Etsy. You can also do something similar when organizing your closet, beauty supplies or even finances. Add a little of the super cute with the shredder.
“I want to cook more” - Without realizing it, all my girlfriends and I made this same resolution this year. It’s especially easy in New York to forget what your kitchen is for, and during the holidays you are barely home in your apartment to use it. There is no need to drop your paycheck at Whole Foods and Bed Bath and Beyond while you try to become a chef this week. There are lots of cheats to this one. Buy a Crockpot and pin some of your favorite recipes that can cook while you’re at work. I signed up for Blue Apron, a site that will literally send you everything you need to cook 3 delicious recipes a week without you lifting a finger. Or, you can enlist the help of a kitchen-friendly pal (or Mom) who can help you set up your kitchen with the basics, and give you easy recipe ideas.
“I want to lose weight” - The worst of the resolutions, in my opinion. I hate the way this one is phrased. I’d rather we all start saying “I want to treat my body better.” When I start looking at weight loss and health as a holistic approach vs. one sided or one minded (and I’ve slipped up more than once), I always feel better than when I hit the treadmill with all I’ve got so I can’t move the next day. Think of ways you take care of yourself that make you feel happy – a spin class, watching a motivational speech, or even a massage. After you do those things, don’t you feel enthusiastic and inspired to put better things in your body? So then the goal is to do more of those things that you need to feel in a great place to take care of yourself! I frequently do things that may seem “indulgent,” like have an afternoon at the spa or go to a boutique gym class, because I know it will have amazing effects on how I take care of myself for the rest of the week.
“I want to do something that scares me” - This is a new one I’m trying this year. I’ve always been intimidated by yoga. As much as I can try to practice at home on my own, I know I need to suck it up and go to a studio where I can better my practice. In order to tackle this intimidation, I need to look at it like an accomplishable challenge, so i have a list of studios in my area where I will try a new studio each week. But some work best when they do something scary with a friend. I know when it comes to going to new places or meeting new people, I almost always need to have Adrianna by my side : )
What are your new years resolutions this year?
