Make It A Healthy New Year
It’s a New Year and a New beginning. It’s everyone’s favorite time to… finally, get going on that diet, quit drinking, start an exercise routine, clean the house, make money, start a project, etc. Let’s face it, do these commitments ever work? Do we always make that change and stick to it?
As a fitness instructor for more than 30 years, I can tell you that my classes always doubled (sometimes tripled) in January, by February half of those new devotees had dispersed, and by March numbers leveled off to an annual average that stayed steady until the next January surge. That annual average was made up of a core group of devoted students who were committed to the work.
So, why don’t we stick to these promises we make to ourselves? And more importantly, what does it take to just live a healthy life so we don’t feel the pressure of having to make some drastic change once a year?
I can’t say I’m perfect, like everyone else I find myself wandering off the path and squandering my time, health, and money on things I know I shouldn’t, but humans need to be entertained. We need companionship and joy, and eating, drinking, shopping, and lying on the couch watching Netflix, often satisfies these needs, so why stop? This is, in fact, why so many fail when making a new year’s resolution, because that resolution, once underway, typically does not provide entertainment, companionship, or joy. It becomes an uncomfortable and sometimes painful experience that leads us to abandon our efforts.
The answer? Like everything else, there is no answer. We are all unique, and therefore our pains, woes, and worries are all different, but there is one common thread. If you feel a need to make a change in your life, you are probably on to something, but the answer is not about change. It’s about looking at things differently. It’s about changing your lens on life and taking a new approach to how you think and see. For example, it’s not about exercising more and losing weight, it’s about seeing yourself as a healthier human and waking up each morning without pain. It’s about feeling comfortable in your skin and not worrying about how others see you. It’s not about looking in the mirror, it’s about looking within.
My blog, Day To Grow, is about this journey. It’s my journey, your journey, and ours to share. When I think about those devoted students I mentioned earlier, the ones who stuck with the fitness classes throughout the year, I realized they had one thing in common, perseverance. They may have failed at their diets and binges just like the rest of us, but no matter what they stuck to a schedule and a regime. Even if it didn’t provide magical changes. With this in mind, I have put together a list of healthy regimes and concepts to act as a day-to-day guide for inspiration. Not for January —although if that’s when you pick it up, go for it— but for the rest of your life. Keep it simple. For example, pick one thing from the list, and try that for a day, a week, a month, or a year, to see how it goes. If you have success, try another.
By finding success in one simple accomplishment, no matter how small, gives us the strength to do more. To grow more. Here’s my list of healthy ABCs, what’s yours?
Learn more about Healthy Living.