Recovery in the New Year

With the New Year upon us it’s a great time to start thinking about the end of the year.  Yes, I said that correctly.  Start thinking about next December.  Where do you want to be?  What do you want to have accomplished?  Determining these things now, and taking action to accomplish them daily will help you lead a better, more present life in 2011.  Take some or all of the steps below to make sure you are on the path to live your best year ever.

Working Out

Weight loss is one of the top three resolutions every year for Americans.  However, this year instead of focusing on what the scale says focus on how HEALTHY you are.  How much can you lift?  How long can you walk?  Those statistics will increase your fitness, give you more energy, and make life easier.  They will of course, also decrease the number on the scale.  Start by finding only ten minutes a day to walk or play a sport of your choice.  Involve the whole family to make it fun, and do double duty as family time. 

Clean Out the Clutter

Everyone wants to be more organized in the New Year.  This year, instead of putting items down where you come in the door and ignoring piles, make a conscious effort to observe your patterns and correct what is bothering you.  For example, if you always have piles of mail, take the time to sort through them, develop a filing system, and remove yourself from unwanted mailing lists.  Remember that you pay rent or a mortgage for every square foot in your home.  Items that are taking up space, and not being used or loved, are costing you money.  Donate them to someone who will love them, or could use them more than you can. 

Eating Healthy

Eating healthy is all about planning.  You don’t need to be a great cook or have a lot of money to eat healthy.  Make sure you know what you are eating for dinner for the next 7-10 days.  Then make sure you have the ingredients on hand.  Shopping in bulk can save you time and money.  Make sure you also know what fruit and vegetables you will have on hand for the following week.  Next, take a peek at those planned meals and see what you can do in advance.  You may be able to cut the vegetables in advance.  You may be able to put together a casserole a few nights prior.  I like to cook twice a week.  Each time I do I put together a crock-pot meal, a dinner for that night, and a casserole to be cooked later.  On the 7^th night we eat leftovers or go out to eat.

         It’s important to remember that life gets in the way of our plans.  Things will go wrong and things will come up.  However, it’s how we deal with these distractions that makes all the difference in the world.  If something comes up that affects your eating, working out, or organizing, don’t get discouraged or give up. Simply gather yourself, cut yourself some slack, and get back on track.  If you dedicate just a few minutes a day to each organizing, working out, and eating healthy they will become second nature for you!