Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season with your family and are feeling motivated as we begin another trip around the sun. I’m personally pretty happy for a new year, a fresh start and a more positive outlook, because 2016 threw us quite a few curve balls, that’s for sure. As far as resolutions go – I’ve gone back and forth on how I feel about them my entire life. For many years I would make my long list and try my hardest (and often fail) to lose weight, eat healthier, and exercise more, blah blah… But as time has gone on, I try to think about a broader mindset and write down some goals rather than “resolutions” – yeah, I know they sound like the same thing but there’s a difference. To prove my point, I checked out the actual definitions of the two words:
Resolution: a firm decision to do or not to do something.
Goal: the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.
Doesn’t the definition of goal just sound nicer? Sure, a resolution is a kick in the pants if you really need one. For example, if you’ve eaten your body weight in Christmas cookies like I did – you might need a resolution to cool it on the sweets. 😉
Meanwhile, a goal: The object of a person’s ambition – to me, this means driving force… a reason to keep going.
An aim or desired result – an aim, not a requirement or a do or die situation. See, I think it’s all about balance and having a positive mindset rather than an ultimatum.
Eat and be Healthy
In the past, whenever I set my resolutions to lose weight and exercise more – I had the tendency to dive in headfirst, get very strict about calories and burn myself out at an unrealistic pace. This year, I’m setting a goal of living a healthier lifestyle overall. For me this means portion control, eating more colorful foods (color = nutrients) and just being more cognizant of what I put in my mouth. I blog a LOT about my favorite recipes (some healthier than others), so if you’re looking for a delicious food rainbow, check out this recipe for Chicken Noodle Soup. If you’re joining me in setting a goal of a healthier lifestyle – my biggest tip to you is to write it down. This is my tried and true method of keeping myself accountable, and you’d be surprised how many calories that piece of chocolate or granola bar contain. There are a zillion apps out there to choose from, so find the one that works for you!
Always Remember Your Why
Another important goal I am setting for myself is to continue to have a positive outlook. Sounds broad, and it is… but it’s incredibly important, and contagious. I say it A LOT, but I try to remember when I’m going through my day that I have no idea what people are going through, but actions and words have impacts. Starting each day with a positive outlook will not only help you cope more easily with the daily affairs of life, but it brings optimism, can help you believe in yourself, and can rub off on those around you. Choose to be happy. Yes it’s a matter of choice. When negative thoughts enter your mind, try not to look their way and instead replace them with things that make you happy – your children, your family, your passions in life, all are great things to focus on.
Hey Momma…You’ve Got This
The last goal I want to talk about here is remember to give yourself some credit. Hey moms – I’m talking to you! We’re busy trying to hold down jobs, raise kids, keep the house in order and wrangle the pets. We are short order cooks, teachers, personal drivers, maids, enforcers of personal hygiene and So. Much. More. My biggest piece of advice I give to my mom friends is to stop being so hard on themselves because since every single child is different from the next, nobody knows the perfect answer to the never-ending questions. To me, it’s all about trial and error, flexing when we need to, and keeping in mind that we’re doing a great job.
So, who wants to set some goals? What are you aiming for this year (and beyond)? Cheers to a healthy, positive and kind new year.
Let’s team up and have a great year!
Instagram: @marthaherdy
