I am not one to recommend New Year’s Resolutions at all. Do you want to know why? Because they don’t work.

On the first day in January, you say: this year, I’m going to lose 50 pounds. All the while starting a new job, getting kids into college, dealing with ailing parents, remodeling the house, or maybe moving.

New Year’s Resolutions

That’s a very big challenge.

Every year, clients come to me, looking for help on how they can reach their health and fitness goals in their busy lives. Maybe just make one little change to your daily life:

1. Check in with your happiness

After waking every morning, take a deep breath and, instead of immediately running around to get ready, remind yourself of how healthy and happy you are.

2. Prepare your breakfast the night before

Mix ½ cup of Oatmeal, 1 cup of Almond milk, and some dried fruit, mixed with ½ cup of Protein powder in a bowl. Let it sit overnight in the refrigerator. Next morning you have breakfast ready to go.

3. Bring dinner leftovers for lunch

Take some of your leftovers from last night’s dinner with you to work. You will look forward to eating a delicious and healthy meal. Add some of the veggies you cut up the night before, and with some hummus, you have a delicious snack.

4. Pre-prep dinners

Cut up a ton of veggies and put them in some baggies in the fridge. They can be used for a stir fry by just adding Tofu or chicken, added to egg whites for dinner or even lunch, or just become a snack before dinner. In our house, we grill several organic chicken breasts and save them for meals for the next few days.

5. Eat at the table.

Remember the 80% full rule? When running around trying to get more done or rushing to an activity, you will not remember how much you ate. Rather take some time, enjoy your meal, and make it family time.

6. Exercise whenever you can

Don’t wait for the perfect time to exercise. Instead, walk the stairs to your office, park further away on your shopping trips, walk at lunchtime, play soccer with your kids, or dance around the house.

7. You don’t have to be perfect, just aim for baby steps each day

Don’t be hard on yourself for missing a workout or the perfect meal. See what you can do better next time.

8. Get support wherever you can find it

Maybe find a friend to walk or run with you, hire a company that brings pre-prepared healthy meals to your house, or sign up for a class of your choice.

9. Be accountable

Remember your weekly exercise or nutrition lesson you received from me. Apply the lessons to your daily life and the choices you make. Stay in the moment, and don’t race ahead with your goals.

Let’s look at some real-life strategies to reach your goals:

• What might you want to do next year that’s just a bit better than last?
• Look back at your accomplishments from last year, and pick one or two of the goals you did better than expected.
• Don’t aim for perfection; life is imperfect, and things may detract. They are not a step back, just a roadblock for you to tackle.
• Start with a clean slate. Don’t look back and wish you would have. Whip the slate clean and start anew.
• Take baby steps to reach your new goals. It will take time, and sometimes it may take longer than expected.
• Start with some of the strategies mentioned above, i.e. have a food service bring you food if you don’t have time to shop and chop.

Need some help or advice?

Reach out, I will support you on your path to the new YOU this coming year.

Here is to a happy, healthy New Year without resolutions but results!

Heike