Reset For the New Year (In a Sustainable Way)

We all know that New Years' Resolutions don't last. They're hard to keep and maintain as life really gets going.

But that doesn't mean they're a bad idea. January 1st offers us a designated reset and we can use that calendar moment to ponder changes we might want to make in our lives.

So how can we find sustainable ways to reset for the new year, and beyond? Here are some ideas.

Carve out time for yourself.

Seems easy, but do you do it? 10 minutes a day, just for you? To meditate or read or just have down time, alone? Try it. You might be amazed.

Make a grocery list of healthy foods you like or want to try.

We all want to eat healthy, but it can be overwhelming to know where to begin and how to do it regularly. Let's start small.

Just think of a few foods that you know you like, or are curious about. Write them down. Then, on your next grocery run, pick 'em up. You're on your way to healthier eating that you can feel good about.

Consider your work life. Do you need to set better boundaries? (probably yes)

Work can dominate our lives and spin out of control without us knowing. There are a lot of deadlines, demands, and things we want and/or need to do, to advance our careers.

It can take a major toll on your mental and physical health. Think about your work life. Do you give too much of yourself? Do you have enough time to rest, recover, and recharge? Do you answer emails outside of regular working hours? Lots of things for you to think about changing!

Writing Idea: What is happiness to you? What's your "happiness bucket list"?

This might seem simple, but take a moment and really think about it. Happiness is an abstract idea that is different for everyone. Spend just 5 minutes writing about what happiness looks like for you. Is it travel? Breakfast with your kids? Breakfast without the kids?

And consider the Happiness Bucket List. What are the things you've always wanted to do, that might bring you joy? Write them down, and see if that gets you closer to achieving them (we bet it will...).

The key here is to be sustainable. To designate things that are achievable, small, and realistic. You might want to run a marathon but have you done a 5K? Or even established a regular running habit?

LittleGrand is all about identifying those tiny things you can do to generate meaningful, lasting change. So let's use the New Year to find those tiny things!

Happy 2024, from LittleGrand.