Maybe you are the type of person who has five New Years resolutions written down on a piece of paper before the clock strikes midnight on New Years Eve. Or maybe you are someone who takes a few minutes to reflect on the previous year and then writes down a few flexible goals for the year on New Years day.
Or maybe you are the type of person who thinks that it would be a great idea to create goals, but decides it's too time consuming and believes goals are meant to be broken so why bother. Whichever type of person you are, here are 10 easy tips to help keep you positive, healthy, & happy in the beginning days of the New Year. And remember, just because it's the new year doesn't mean you have to start over. You can start fresh anytime of the year.
Or maybe you are the type of person who thinks that it would be a great idea to create goals, but decides it's too time consuming and believes goals are meant to be broken so why bother. Whichever type of person you are, here are 10 easy tips to help keep you positive, healthy, & happy in the beginning days of the New Year. And remember, just because it's the new year doesn't mean you have to start over. You can start fresh anytime of the year.
1. Just Say Yes. Expand your horizons, crawl outside of your comfort zone. Say yes to a date. Say yes to trying a new food. Say yes to a friend who asks for a favor and it's an inconvenience for you. Say yes to playing with your kid, nephew, niece, cousin, sibling, or neighbor's kids. Say yes to trying a new color for your wardrobe.
2. Experiment with Essential Oils. If you don't mind spending $10 on an experiment to help enhance your mood, keep reading. Essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, spearmint, orange blossom, and many others have a wide variety of uses to help improve the mind. You've probably heard of using lavendar essential oil on your temples to help you go to sleep or to add a few drops to a room infuser. One technique I've particularly grown fond of is placing a few drops of peppermint essential oil on the bottom of the bathtub before taking a shower. The steam from the shower activates the peppermint oil and helps awaken your senses.
3. Drink More Water. For most of us, drinking more water throughout the day is a chore. It's tasteless, boring, and just not fun. I get it. But the reality is, we need to survive and the more we have of it, the better off we are. The Institute of Medicine recommends men should consume 13 cups of water per day and women should consume 9 cups of water per day. Water helps regulate our body temperatures, remove waste from our bodies, keep us hydrated, and protect our most important internal organs and brain. Life hacker offers a handful of solutions to trick yourself into drinking more water.
4. Express Gratitude. Let go of the past, remove expectations for the future, and embrace the present. Be grateful for everything in your life. Each day (maybe it's first thing in the morning or right before bed) write down, say aloud, or just quietly share to yourself at least three things you are most grateful for in your life. Try to remember to do this simple exercise everday for at least one week and take a mental note of how you feel. You'll be amazed at how taking a few minutes out of your day to reflect on everything you already have can be transformative in your life. If you need a few tips on how to go about doing it, read this.
5. Just Smile. Did you know smiling is contagious? Did you know smiling can help lower stress and anxiety? Did you know smiling helps you become more attractive and more trustworthy? Smiling doesn't just have to happen when you laugh at a funny joke. You could try and change your outlook on life and smile just because.
6. Take a Bath. Treat yourself by disconnecting from all technology and distractions to allow yourself to drift away in a warm bath. Add Epsom salts to the bath to ease any stress or soreness. Spend 20 - 30 minutes in the bath either with a book or a glass of wine or your favorite drink. Put this time aside for you.
7. Volunteer. Do you remember a time in your life when someone unexpectedly gave you a helping hand? Maybe it was at work, at home, or from a random stranger. Do you remember how you felt afterwards? It's pretty awesome receiving help in life, especially when you need it most. Pay it foward and help improve your community by volunteering either with your local food pantry, homeless shelter, Big Brother Big Sister chapter, or other organization that aligns with your interests. To explore some ideas on how you can get involved, check out this website.
8. Go Vegan! January is officially known as "Veganuary!" The month is dedicated to "reduce the suffering of animals by inspiring and supporting people across the globe to go vegan for the month of January." Feel great about yourself. Help the environment. Be compassionate to animals. Everything you need to know about Veganuary is on this dedicated website, including a vegan starter kit! What are you waiting for?
9. Give an Unsolicited Compliment. Whether you are waiting in line at the grocery store, commuting on the train, or at work, try offering an unsolicited tasteful compliment to someone you may know or a complete stranger. Those few words may really make someone elses day.
10. Adopt a Kitten. Check out who needs a home from your local animal shelter. It will bring so much happiness to your daily life. :)
