December, for many is a month of hustle, bustle, and quiet reflection. The year is coming to an end and it’s hard not to think about all that 2013 has offered. Both good and bad, this is the time we accept things as they are and start looking forward to all that 2014 may bring. Regardless of our past successes we commit (or re-commit) ourselves to a New Year’s resolution.
When we think of things we hope a new year will bring, all too often we think of grand things. More savings, a new home, a better job, love at last, a smaller waist line, a new baby, our own business…whatever your hope…this year I encourage you to scrap those thoughts…and start small.
Research has shown that small, easy to manage improvements in your daily routine can produce drastic change and trickle into other areas of your life. If you struggle putting a little cash away for a rainy day chances are that’s not going to change overnight. A goose egg as opposed to a nest egg is a summation of numerous daily, bad habits. Making a promise to yourself to change, and save your change, will almost always leave you empty handed because you lack awareness and subsequently overlook all of the daily habits prohibiting your success.
For me, I constantly put my health on the back burner. Everything else seems to take precedence and the sad thing is…I really love…I mean REALLY LOVE to work out…so it’s sort of a double whammy. In light of this discovery, I chose two, health-related habits that I could focus on improving. I’m pretty slack when it comes to putting lotion on after a shower and brushing my teeth before bed. By focusing on these minor improvements, I started to prioritize my health and along the way, dropped 40 lbs (and counting). Obviously those things did not cause me to lose weight, but the mental shift is what was key.
If you need to make a big change–try examining your life for the little things–they are what will ultimately push you toward your goal.
Own and On 