I’m not calling these resolutions because I don’t want to set myself up for failure. Instead, I’ll call them goals. New Year’s resolutions where you go from eating complete trash over the holidays to eating rabbit food for the next year just aren’t feasible. I’ve laid out achievable yet motivational goals for the next year to keep myself accountable, but should I not reach them all, I’ll still be content with the progress I’m bound to make.
I think the reason why so many people fail when it comes to their resolutions is that they try and make drastic unrealistic changes that are unsustainable. Give yourself a few goals that will help improve your lifestyle and well-being, rather than focusing on a number on the scale or eliminating certain foods completely from your diet. It will be easier to stick to, I promise.
1.) Blog at least once a week, ideally more
I keep saying I need to set a schedule for my blog, but I don’t want it to feel like a chore. I still really enjoy doing it, but with a full-time job, it’s hard to find time for the gym, making new recipes/cooking meals while still finding time to write about it. I love sharing my passions so I need to be more organized and plan posts ahead of time.
2.) Incorporate a video once a month
I bought a camera this past summer with hopes to include videos on this blog, but I haven’t made time to do that. Since I haven’t started it at all, giving myself the goal of once a month is much more realistic and hopefully, the frequency will increase as I become more accustomed to doing so.
3.) Go to the gym/yoga at least 3 times a week
I got an amazing Cyber Monday deal at my favorite yoga studio in NYC. I never really liked yoga before, but I tried this hip-hop yoga when I signed up for ClassPass at the beginning of the year and fell in love. When my ClassPass was up, I bought the trial month for newbies because it was an insane deal… only to realize that an actual month is a little outside of my budget. But, I’ve missed yoga tremendously and now I have 10 classes stocked up to use in the new year!
4.) Eat some form of veggie at every meal
I absolutely love vegetables and I’m very lucky because it’s so easy to fill up on those healthy, nutrient-dense foods. But on the flip side, I also love pizza and a juicy burger with fries. There will be times where I’ll have a slice of pizza for lunch or indulge in a cheat meal every so often, but when I do, I’ll have to also eat some form of veggie with it.
5.) Bring lunch 4 out of 5 days a week
This is to help my wallet and my waistline. If I don’t make my lunch for a whole work week, that is 50-70 dollars that I’ll never see again. When I could easily grocery shop for over a week’s worth of groceries that includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner for that amount. I’m saying 4 out of 5 because it gives some leeway if I haven’t prepared my lunch one day, whereas if I said every day.. that would probably result in me quitting and going back to buying my lunch most days and starting at square one.
6.) Keep my room clean and organized
I always feel so much more at peace everytime my room is clean. I wouldn’t call myself a dirty person by any means, but I can be messy… I’m the girl that will try a few different outfits on and then be too lazy to hang up whatever I didn’t end up choosing, and then having to wash a perfect clean article of clothing because it’s been laying on my floor for days.
I also want to start making my bed every day. It’s a simple thing that makes my room feel that much more put together. I don’t sleep with a top sheet so it takes a maximum of 30 seconds and it’s such a small step for the payoff of climbing into a nicely made bed at the end of the day.
7.) Have “me” time
We have a great soaking tub at my new apartment and I got some “spa goodies” for Christmas. I haven’t really taken many baths as an adult, but I wanted to try my new bath treats out the other day and I felt so relaxed afterward. After vacation, it’s always hard for me to get back on my regular sleep schedule and this new addition to my routine will definitely help me fall asleep faster!
8.) Get back to counting macros
While this is daunting for some people, it’s the one thing that has helped me stay on track with my eating. It allows me to eat mostly healthy while still finding ways to fit in more indulgent foods if I feel like it. Even when I have a “cheat meal” I still track it so I can keep myself accountable. When I wasn’t counting macros and would have a cheat meal, it would turn into a full-on binge and I would just chalk the day up as a loss. This way I can have my cake and eat it too!
It’s really important to not overwhelm yourself with New Year’s resolutions. If you think about it, it’s just a new day. It’s always good to incorporate a healthier routine and lifestyle, so start small and build up as the year goes on. There is no set time period for becoming a better you.
I hope you’ll share your goals for 2018 in the comment section below!
Happy New Year my goodies!
xo,
Megan
The Goody Bagg 