10 Health Related New Year’s Resolutions that are NOT Weight Loss
Happy New Year! I’m sure we are all very happy to wave “Goodbye” to 2020 and say “Hello” to 2021! The new year always feels like a breath of fresh air and a wave of motivation tends to hit the first week of January.
Now my burning questions for you are:
Do you typically make New Year Resolutions?
If so, do you achieve them?
Are any of your resolutions to lose weight?
It’s probably not a surprise to hear the most common resolutions are to exercise more and lose weight. It’s also probably not a surprise to learn that about 80% of New Year resolutions fail. Often, resolutions fail because our goals are too lofty or because we don’t create strategies to create the habit. (Psstt… If you need help learning how to create a habit, read my 5 Steps to Create a Habit.)
To be honest with you, I have never been someone who creates resolutions, mainly because I don’t think it needs to be the beginning of the year to start a habit. I also don’t love the idea that people think losing weight or becoming a gym rat are the only ways to become healthier. However, the coming of a new year can be great motivation to start a new habit and set yourself up for success!
So if you are someone who wants to be a bit healthier this year, try one of these health related New Year’s resolutions that are not related to weight loss.
Remember, health isn’t defined solely by your weight, health also includes your mind and soul.
Here are 10 Health Related New Year’s Resolutions that are **NOT** weight loss
If some of these goals are too ambitious or not ambitious enough, scale them up or down to help you be successful! Also remember to turn these into SMART goals! If you don’t know what SMART goals are, head over to my 5 Steps to Create a Habit article.
- Read 1 book a month
- I personally am not a fast reader so my goal may be to read 1 book every 2 months.
- Do 15 minutes of intentional movement (i.e. moving for the sake of exercise) each day
- Activities may include walking during your lunch break, cleaning the house, playing with a pet or child, doing a short workout video, stretching… the options are endless!
- Start each day with 3 positive self-affirmations
- One of my favorite apps is “My Affirmations: Life Positive.” It has preloaded affirmations separated into several different categories such as health, success, confidence, public speaking, self esteem, and wealth. You can also add your own affirmations and even schedule the app to give you affirmations throughout the day.
- Cook dinner at home at least 4 times a week
- Depending on your current routine, this number may be higher or lower.
- Eating in will generally be healthier than eating fast food or eating out, and creates good habits!
- Try 1 new recipe each week
- Check out my Recipe section for new recipes to try! Let me know which ones will make it on your “Favorite Recipe List!”
- Call a friend or family member each week
- How often do you end our phone calls with friends with “Let’s talk more often” to not talk to them for another 2 months? Schedule a time in your week to call a friend or family member. Personal connection boosts our overall happiness level!
- Stretch for 15 minutes each week
- There are so many benefits to stretching! It helps increase blood flow to your muscles, improves posture, reduces stress, helps with back pain and can calm the mind. This is something I actively worked on during 2020 and I am loving the benefits!
- Take some time to meditate each day.
- You don’t have to spend 30 minutes meditating for it to be beneficial. Sometimes 5 minutes is all you need to refocus and be mentally in a better place. There are many meditation apps available to help guide you in the practice! You are bound to find one that you love! If you already have a favorite, let me know which one you use in the comments!
- Learn a new skill
- I didn’t put a specific skill here because all of our interests are different. You may want to learn how to make ravioli like me! Or yours may be to learn how to change a tire, knit, swim, frost a cake or make face masks 😉
- Put screens away 30 minutes before bedtime
- I’m sure you have heard this one before, but limiting screen time before bed can really help calm your mind and help you get a better night rest! After all, we want to wake up refreshed and energized the next day so we can keep working toward our resolutions!
If some of these goals are too ambitious or not ambitious enough, scale them up or down to help you be successful! Also remember to turn these into SMART goals!
What are my resolutions this year? Here are my top three!
- Read 1 book every 2 months by reading for 30 minutes, four times a week.
- Stretch or practice yoga for 30 minutes two times per week, once during the week and once on the weekend.
- Make 1 new dinner recipe each week and write it on a recipe card if it is a favorite.
Notice how these are specific actions, they can be measured, are relevant to my interests, and are time oriented! If you need help creating SMART goals, remember to read my 5 Steps to Create a Habit post.
Great advice and I love your blog! I am also in the health and wellness field.
Thank you so much! Let me know if there is a particular topic you would like covered! Stay tuned for more posts 🙂