What's your new year's resolution?
What's your new year's resolution?
Whilst we do believe you don't NEED a new year to make a change, and that setting achievable goals only leads to disappointment, it seems like as good a time as any to make a small but positive change in your life. Here's a few suggestions for 2019 new years resolutions.
1. Start doing yoga
The benefits of yoga are endless, and include both physical, mental and emotional benefits. Yoga is an extremely helpful practice for a healthy body and mind. It's an ideal way to begin your day, but it's beneficial whenever you can fit it into your day. Start by setting aside just half an hour once per week. Here are some easy poses to get you started:
2. Volunteer
Not only is it fab to give back to the community, research shows that volunteering regularly can actually lead to reduced stress levels and lower blood pressure. Check out opportunities in your local area. If you have a busy schedule, set aside just one day per month to volunteer. You may even find something the whole family can get involved with.
3. Reduce plastic
The UK is set to move towards a total ban on single-use plastics, but there's more that you can do in the mean time. Here are some easy ways to cut down on your plastic use:
Stop using plastic bags
Avoid using clingfilm unless it's completely necessary
Avoid plastic straws - you can even purchase your own reusable metal straw to take out with you
Buy a reusable water bottle instead of using plastic ones
Next time you replace your toothbrush, choose a bamboo toothbrush rather than a plastic one
4. Reduce food waste
Most of us are guilty of wasting either a little bit or a lot of food. Wastage can be reduced by putting a little more thought into cooking dishes that will use up veggies that are going off, or chopping and freezing meat and veg that you won't use.
5. Write down one lesson you've learnt each month
You may have seen a trend amongst bloggers this month called '12 lessons in 12 months', in which bloggers list one lesson that they've learnt per month of 2018. It must be pretty difficult to remember clearly at the end of the year, so instead make a note at the end of each month and at the end of 2019 it will be lovely to look back on how much you've learnt.
6. Make more time for yourself
Taking time out for yourself is SO important to lower the stress levels and keep yourself from getting overwhelmed. Even allocating one hour per week for you time can help immensely. Send the kids to a friends house and run yourself a bath with some scented candles and a big glass of wine, or walk down to the park and just chill out. However you prefer to relax alone, make it happen.
Read: Take a deep breath and relax this month
7. Cut down on your use of technology
Have you noticed how much time we spend glued to technology? It's crazy. Pick one evening per week when the phones, TVs and laptops are switched off and indulge in more simple pleasures, such as playing a board game as a family. As amazing as it is that we can keep in touch with friends and family all over the world at the touch of a button, receiving a hand-written card or letter in the mail feels so much more personal. Write a letter or postcard to someone who you don't see as often as you'd like to, and encourage them to write back rather than texting.
Whatever you decide to do this year, we wish you a happy 2019.
xxx