Turn 2025 resolutions into habits that stick!
Have you experienced the scenario, that you have had big New Years resolutions, but failed at keeping them up? I think we have all been there. But what about implementing little changes, one at a time, focusing on only this one little new thing. Wouldn’t this be much easier to manage than saying: “2025 I will be healthy”, “2025 I will lose some weight”, “2025 I will be less stressed”. What’s the path to get there? An action plan is always required (or: a map to get to the desired destination, so we don’t get lost along the way).
My modest suggestion is: Write a plan with all the months of the year. For every months, write one change that you would like to make in that month. Make it a priority, focus on it, schedule it in and make it happen. There is a saying that it takes 30 days for a change to become a habit. By the end of the month there is a good chance that you this new thing has become a habit and a much appreciated part of our lives.
And another important point is not to deny yourself from things. Fill your list with “do’s” and not “don’t”. Because the aim to New Year’s resolutions is to lead a happy and fulfilled life and to be the best we can for ourselves, our loved ones and the environment.
Here an example of a Year Plan, with some Traditional Chinese Medicine Wisdom.
January:
Hydration- Start your day with a warm Glass of water, 30min before breakfast. This is great for rehydration, digestion and a lot of other benefits.
February:
Breathe- This month observe yourself. What is happening to the breath when I’m feeling stressed? Breath becomes shallow, which leads to reduced supply of oxygen to all our cells. A month of daily focus on breath, before rising, at work, in a break, before a meal, in the car, when having an argument with your children and spouse, and so on. Retrain your brain to take deeper, longer breaths, calming down your central nervous system.
March:
Meditation- There are so many benefits to meditation. In our fast paced world, stress levels are often high, which long term can lead to disease. Allocate some time during your day. Even if it is only a 5min or 10min mediation a day. There are plenty of great mediation apps, for guided mediation, many of them are even free. If still mediation isn’t for you, try Yoga, Qi Gong or Tai Chi, which are forms of moving mediation.
April:
Eating mindfully- the month of Easter. Some religions are fasting. Focus this month on eating to nourish your body. Try to avoid as much as you can processed foods. And when you eat, make sure you are sitting down in a relaxed atmosphere, take your time, enjoy it, chew well. When Easter comes, indulge! Make sure you enjoy every bite.
May:
Exchange Expectations for gratitude. My goodness, this is a very powerful thing to do, try it. I feel that gratitude is the path to happiness. Make it your focus for this month.
June:
Kind Words – Following on last month: give at least one honest compliment every day to one person around you, and one to yourself, every day.
July:
Sleep- the days are getting shorter. Focus on getting enough sleep this month and possibly polish up on your sleep hygiene.
August:
Laughing- “laughing is the best medicine”. Well known saying that has a lot of truth in it. Happy hormones are released in your body, which contribute to general wellbeing. How much/often are you laughing daily? If you need help, get jokes, comedies, play. Have fun!
September:
Exercise- find something new or dedicate time and focus on a sort of exercise you already do and enjoy. Make it priority this month, as often as it is possible for you.
October:
Green Vegetables – so much goodness in them! Eat every day some sort of green vegetables.
November:
Try something new – the world is your Oyster. It may be a food you have never had before, going to a place you have never been before, trying a new treatment, a new approach to something, learning something new (dancing, language) etc. Stimulate your brain, feed it with novelty, get inspired. It can be a daily thing, or weekly. Important is that you put focus on it, maybe break some routines and flush your life with some newness.
December:
Bring it all together – What has stuck, what hasn’t. Your choice on focusing on one month’s theme that you particularly enjoyed or that you would like to work on more.
Any challenge in life is an opportunity to grow and learn. Be kind to yourself and others and enjoy life.
Merry Christmas!
Dr. Caroline Alison Nichols (TCM) currently practices at Ranges Integrative Health on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Bookings can be made online from our bookings page or by calling 9754 2062.
