Make it a Happy & Healthy New Year!

Whether you choose to make New Year resolutions or not, every January feels like a new beginning, ripe with endless possibilities.

But now that the mayhem of New Year’s Eve has faded and the Christmas spirit has waned, how do you seize the momentum of the new year and take positive steps towards the 2022 life you want? And how do you keep your New Year’s Resolutions?

Here are 5 tips to try if you want or make 2022 the year you actually keep the promises you’ve made to yourself.

1. Be specific
If you are making a new year’s resolution, be specifc and simple in outlining what you want to do. Wishing to get fit? Outline how.  For example, you could start with ‘walk to the end of the street and back each day.’ Expand with mini-goals, dates/times in which you aim to accomplish each of them. If you want to save money, determine how much you will put aside each week or month and identify the real changes in behavior you’ll need to make to get there, whether that means skipping your afternoon latte or carpooling to save on fuel costs.

2. Make bite size goals 
Keep your goals small and realistic. The more achievable they are, the more likely you are to keep them.   The momentum you build from simply creating a new, achievable habit (like being more present by calling loved ones) is the best foundation on which you can take your new lifestyle/habit to previously uncontemplated heights.

3. Share your intentions
We don’t mean to plaster your plans on social media, but once you’ve set your goal, share your decision to change with friends and family who can offer support when you’re wavering and encouragement when you’re doing well.  In general, public commitments are more successful than private decisions.

4. Track your progress
Record or chart progress on your calendar or diary – preferably something you use each day – so you have a visual reminder of your achievements. Research indicates that ‘self-monitoring’ increases the probability of keeping your resolutions.

5. Be kind to yourself
The most important thing in any lifestyle change is self-awareness and self-compassion. Simply having a resolution to change habits to improve your health or lifestyle is a great first step, but don’t forget to be kind to yourself. No one has the power to wish away bad habits we’ve skillfully perfected over the years to cut yourself some slack. You’re more likely to succeed if you accept any hiccups or inevitable failures as just another opportunity to try again. 

Make 2022 your best year yet, and we figured we can help by giving you our Mesquite Bean Protein Bar recipe! Happy and Healthy New year!