New Year’s Resolution Ideas

Are we all in the midst of the holiday scramble or what? Gift shopping, wrapping, and shipping. Or hiding of gifts. Card signing and sending and ordering. The parties, the weather, the school performances. It’s a lot, isn’t it?

Here’s one more item to think about. In one short month, we’ll begin another year. A new year means resolutions. New Year’s Resolutions don’t have to be big to be life changing. Mine are always small – but that’s how I stick to them.

Grab a cup of something warm and get your notebook. I’m sharing 5 easy New Year’s Resolutions that are attitude adjustments rather than sacrificing and depriving.

1. Limit :: Say no. Saying no allows you to NOT over commit and gives you time to do what’s really important. I keep my calendar at home so I can say, “Let me check my calendar.” This allows me time to think long and hard about adding another commitment.
2. Health :: Put exercise and healthy eating FIRST on your daily to do list. Don’t skip either of those. If I have a choice, I always opt for early morning meetings on days I’m not working out. If that doesn’t work, I get up very early in the morning to fit it all in. Yes, early bedtime that night!
3. Plan :: Get ready the night before…Prep workout clothes the night before so you’re ready to go. Get the smoothie ready the night before so it’s quick to eat in the morning. Soak beans the night before so you’re ready to cook them in your slow cooker in the morning.
4. Cook :: Meal plan and cook…I always make a meal plan and this keeps me from running to the grocery store every day – which is a huge time saver! I have a ‘cooking day’ (sometimes 2) where I’m making food that feeds us for the rest of the week. Busy weeknights are easier with a plan + we eat healthier at home.
5. Budget :: Never sexy but always needed. Track spending to start the process of setting up a household budget. What are your financial goals? Set those and work towards them. A big trip? Adding to your savings account? College? Whatever your goals are, set them – with your spouse or partner – and then chart your progress. Don’t let another year go by without finding ways to spend less and enjoy more.

Easy to tackle and accomplish changes are ones that stick and stay around – for the entire year – and don’t end in a month. Use the New Year to make healthy, easy, good for you changes. In 12-months, we can hi-five about how we stuck to our resolutions. And, then we can make some more.

 Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? Do you keep them?

Go Gingham related links:

Displaying holiday cards – don’t put them away, just leave them out to enjoy
Homemade Christmas gift tradition: family calendar
Tree topper tale: a Christmas tree topper that’s so easy to make
Quick and easy holiday decorating: very easy
Green holiday living: generate less waste this holiday season