As 2021 concludes, many of us will be taking stock of our lives and looking at how we will achieve our goals. Rather than setting overly-ambitious or vague New Year’s resolutions, try to aim for progress over perfection as the best changes are those you can keep for life. Below are a few resolutions that will encourage small changes with the potential for more significant positive shifts to your overall well-being.
- Eat more veggies
Rather than committing to a radical new diet or cutting out any food groups, the best food resolution I can suggest is simply to add more vegetables to your meals. Aim for five servings of vegetables each day. One way would be to include one serving to your breakfast, two to your lunch and two to your evening meal. Vegetables are packed with important minerals and vitamins and are low in calories. They can help reduce your consumption of carbs without sacrificing on how full you feel after your meal.
2. Set a bedtime alarm
We all feel better when we’ve had a good night’s sleep, yet many of us still struggle to get our total 7-8 hours. To help ensure you’re well-rested in 2022, why not try setting a bedtime alarm? Set your alarm an hour before you need to be asleep and another alarm fifteen minutes before you should be sleeping. In the hour leading up to sleep time, commit to no screens. Start your bedtime routine and wind down before your fifteen-minute alarm with a book or journaling. Then when your second alarm rings, it’s time for lights out.
- Look after your skin
A simple skincare routine can work wonders for our self-esteem and help us look and feel our best. Ensure you take the time to cleanse and moisturize your skin in the morning and before you head to bed. Find a good cleanser that works for your skin and a moisturizer that uses hyaluronic acid. It’s also essential to find an SPF (30+ at least) that you’re comfortable using daily.
- Face your fear
It is human nature to avoid situations that scare us. But hiding from our fears only fuels them further and can increase our general anxiety. Start by writing down your worries, then think about how you can break down the process of facing them into small steps. For example, if you fear public speaking, the first step could be to try standing and presenting something simple to a close friend. The next step could be contributing to a small group of friends. Tiny, repeated exposures to our fears help us build resilience and find comfort with them over time.
- Become a better listener
Being a good listener is an essential life skill, which can be learned but must be practiced. It’s an excellent resolution because it improves all areas of your life while also benefiting those around you. Some key ways to actively improve your listening include:
- Getting rid of distractions (put your phone away, turn off the tv, close the door)
- Listen without judgement and without interrupting
- Ask investigative questions
- Show you’re listening through your body language
- Listen to learn not to respond
Dr. Lindsey Fawcette
