Healthy Habits I’m Starting BEFORE The New Year
Why wait until the New Year to be better?
Setting new year goals was never for me, mainly because my birthday is on New Year’s, so I always focused on the celebration. Last year, I decided to set goals for the new year.
I started small with things I knew were achievable, and I did an okay job at achieving the goals I set out this year, but I’m constantly looking for improvement, and OF COURSE, I had to hop on the “new year new me” trend this year. Personal wellness and mental development have always been significant to me.
So here are some of the habits I began practicing in late October to train myself for the goals I want to accomplish next year:
1. Quitting Social Media
I’ve always wanted to go off the grid and live a simple life, but with the distractions of the modern world, it’s been hard for me to follow this practice. I even practiced minimalism from 2017–2021, so I could learn to live with less physical baggage. Quitting social media last month has caused me to be more intuitive, read more, and elevate my focus, while it’s only been about a month.
I find myself curious about what’s happening in the world or other people’s lives, and then I remember that it’s not crucial at the moment. If I want to be informed, I can watch the news, if I need human interaction, I can call a friend, and the list continues. But I enjoy having my mind back in my body. I don’t feel like I’m moving through life mindlessly; I’m driving purposefully.
I know it’s only been a little over three weeks, but I see such dramatic changes in my mind and way of thinking that I can’t help but be grateful.
2. Going to the gym
Going to the gym will always be a vibe. Everyone is working to be better versions of themselves, and the energy rubs off. I used to hate going to the gym, and now I enjoy it. Even if I go in there and only get on the treadmill for 20 minutes, it still makes me feel good because I’m learning that a little bit goes a long way.
I signed up shortly after I stopped using social networks because I had more time than I had recently thought. I started with a couple of days a week, and now I’ve been going every day. I’m proud because I never thought I’d be a gym girl.
I am looking forward to this newfound fitness journey.
3. Stop Gossiping
Gossip is an informal conversation about another person’s private affair.
Also known as talking trash, being shady, not minding your business, or slandering, gossiping is ugly all around. It happens more often than we realize because it’s so common to have an opinion outwardly.
But if we’re being honest, it’s low vibrational. Whether it’s about celebrities, old high school friends, or a distant cousin, gossiping is filled with negative energy.
I’d be lying if I said I never talked about anyone behind their back before. But practicing yoga helped me become in tune with my thoughts and actions, which made me never want to gossip again.
Talking about people who aren’t in the room is a habit I’m practicing and bringing with me throughout my life.
4. Being Eco Friendly
I will make this simple so we don’t get into the hole of environmentalism.
I want to be a part of a more fantastic future, which requires me to live more ethically. Small acts will slowly reduce waste and trash consumption, which can impact Mother Earth.
There are many ways to appreciate the planet, so it’s easy to start.
First, I removed paper towels from my bathroom and used hand towels — simple and compelling, which can also save some coins.
Another thing can be to buy a water filter with a water bottle to save yourself money by not having to buy plastic water bottles every 3–5 weeks.
More on this later, but I’m making it known that being eco-conscious is a habit I’ve started now so that it can be a part of my lifestyle from now on.
5. Naming things I’m grateful for every day.
Taking a few moments to yourself daily can be powerful for your mind. Your mind believes whatever you tell it, so if you take a few moments to name a few things you’re appreciative of daily, you’ll slowly start to see the beauty in the little things.
“It’s the little things.”
That saying isn’t famous for no reason.
A recent list of my affirmations
Expressing gratitude doesn’t necessarily have to be affirmations, though.
There are other ways to be grateful also:
- Being thankful to the person who cooked for you
- Appreciating your good health or aliveness
- Acknowledging your junior at work for taking the initiative to ease your workload.
The list goes on, but I wanted to name a few because gratitude can look different and goes above and beyond affirmations.
Final Thought
I’m learning that adopting new habits can start at the top of the year, day, week, or month. It forms the moment you want to act on your actions.
2022 has been an incredible year, but I realized I didn’t achieve some of my goals because my habits didn’t support the result I was going for.
So I created a list of goals to acquire before the new year to start strong. I’ve been consistent for a month now and am self-motivated to continue my evolution. Next year will be another chapter in the book.
I hope you’re inspired to learn new habits to achieve some of your goals too.
Always,
Sunny
