Health, happiness and resolutions

With the coming of a new year, comes people's desire for a new start. Year after year we make new year's resolutions to loose weight, work more, work less or to actually start using that gym membership you signed up for the year before. At the beginning we are full of optimism and enthusiasm but within weeks, that drive fades and we fall back into the same old routine and by march your already thinking about the resolutions you should start next year. It seems for the majority, we are destined to fail, but are we? or is it self sabotage.

Like everyone else, I made new years resolution I just never seemed to stick to and as I get older (creeping towards 37) I find myself with more random aches and pains, still carrying the weight I gained in my late 20s and seriously thinking about my health pretty much for the first time. So, by mid November I decided to make health and wellbeing my resolution for 2022. Almost instantly, a wave of doubt crossed my mind, thinking about how I had said the same thing 3 years running. As I started to think about why I keep failing, when I begin with so much focus, I soon realised that all I was thinking of was excuses.

"I'm too busy with work to exercise"

Great excuse, but somehow I still have four hours a night to sit in front of the Tv playing on my phone.

"A little treat now and then is allowed"

Sure, a LITTLE treat is fine, but when is a take away, alcoholic drinks and sugary snacks a little treat, especially when you eat it all in one night.

Sound familiar? I was lying to myself and it was 100% self sabotage. So I had a plan. Christmas was around the corner and I started forming my present list full of exercise equipment, planners to help me keep organised and all those lovely smelling toiletries for pampering myself, because looking after your health includes your mind as well as your body. I was feeling really positive about the future, for all of 30 seconds before just feeling guilty, but why? I had all these plans to get my health and wellness back on track, but for some reason, couldn't let myself feel good about it. I knew exactly why I felt that way, I just didn't want to admit it to myself.

There is a reason why we all say we'll start doing something next week or next year. Its an excuse to have one last takeaway, one last night out, one more moment of naughtiness before being so strict on yourself, all you do is crave that one thing your missing. That workout where you pushed yourself so hard, your whole body ached for a week, stopping you from being able to do anything else. We hear it so often but somehow seem to continuously overlook it.

"It's a lifestyle change"

For the first time it really hit me. It is, a life change. Seems obvious when you have heard it time and time again but until you really accept its time to change your lifestyle, it doesn't really sink in. So that's what I did. No more new year resolutions. No more I will start tomorrow. I start now.

Suddenly the enthusiasm was back and I had a new plan. I cut down on the naughty food, cut portion sizes, limited my alcohol and sugar consumption, started doing at least 30min of exercise a day and potentially the most helpful thing I did, allowed myself to take some pressure off my need to fit so much into each day. There are only so many hours in a day and you can only do so much in that time. I realised very quickly that with less pressure to get everything done, I was less stressed, making everything easier to do and in the long run, actually getting the same amount done as before but with a smile on my face.

They were all small changes, but it worked. A month later and I am happier, healthier, a few pounds lighter and positive about the future. Everyone has bad days and I'm no exception but that isn't an excuse to give up. So next time you have a new years resolution. Don't wait. Start now.