New Year’s Resolutions: 12 Months of Change with Small Changes, Big Results

Happy New Year! The arrival of a new year grants us another opportunity to tackle those issues we love to jot in our minds as important but somehow never quite accomplish as we had hoped. That’s the problem with most resolutions. They seem so daunting we basically freeze.

What does work is making small changes in our lives that carry a punch for a long term health impact. Small change, Big Results is a philosophy I’ve been advocating for a while now, and works! It works because it gives you a realistic place to start, builds a solid foundation to grow from, and helps you start on solid ground before building momentum in the cause you are trying to tackle.

I’ve put together a list of the top twelve areas people tend to focus on when they think about getting more healthy and fit. Each month, pick an area from this list to start making small changes that can carry over to the next month. The following month, you’ll start a new area while continuing the area(s) you already began to change. By the end of the calendar year, you’ll have tweaked 12 areas of your life.

The 12 areas to focus on this year include:

Whatever really matters to you right now
Media balance
Health
Nutrition
Family time
Fitness
Me time
Community involvement
Friends
Giving Back
Going Green
Trying Something New

The sky’s the limit for what you do with these areas but here are some suggestions to get you going:

Whatever really matters to you right now: This month, pick one of your top interests and focus on it. Perhaps you have a hobby you’ve been neglecting or an old project you’ve wanted to dust off.
Media balance: We all have to admit we are overly plugged in. We have to work harder on balancing online and plugged in life with real world life. I’ve recently discovered the “do not disturb” button on my phone machine and the “away” message on my email and those two small features are very liberating. You know what? Life really is ok without checking those messages real time. Give it a try this month and next month work on other areas of your media life such as internet searching.
Health: This month, look under the hood over everyone in your family and make sure everything is up to date. Has everyone had a yearly checkup? Is everyone’s shots up to date? Are there health issues unaddressed? Make a list for each family member and call the appropriate physicians to come up with a game plan.
Nutrition: This month, hold the take-out and cook everything at home. Try adding a new fruit or vegetable this month or a food you haven’t thought of trying and have everyone in your family do the same.
Family time: While this should be year ‘round, start this month by adding a new family tradition. Do you have a family game night? How about weekend out door games that involve moving your bodies? Have each family member pick an activity to do as a family and be sure it gets done this month.
Fitness: Family fitness is the goal this month – getting everyone moving more than last month. This isn’t about team sports but moving more. Walk as a family. Find games that get everyone moving including touch football. The key is having fun and moving about. No rules. No scores just heart pumping fun.
Me time: We’re all busy, kids included. This month, find ways to grab time alone just to be alone. This is time to listen to music or read a good book or magazine.
Community involvement: If you are not involved with your community, this is your month to find some simple ways to get more involved. Look for areas that interest you and that work for the time you have. If true volunteering isn’t your thing, consider giving regularly to your local food pantry.
Friends: “Busy” is the typical reason we become disconnected from our friends. This month, get on Facebook and reconnect with old friends while discovering some new ones. And, pick up the phone and invite a friend over for coffee.
Giving Back: This month explore ways to give to charities that will become yearly traditions. Here are some of my favorites but your community may have some.
Going Green: Do you recycle? You should and it’s so easy. Start small with saving cans and using reusable grocery bags and try to find ways to slowly change over to other environmentally friendly practices.
Trying Something New: What have you always wanted to do? This month, go for it! In 2008, I wanted to learn guitar so my family surprised me with one for Mother’s Day. Clue your family in and watch what happens. My kids are a bit scared that I started on a classical guitar and I’m now scoping out orange electric guitars but I’m having a blast and they are seeing me in a light they never knew could come from their “old” mom.