New Year - New Thoughts?

As the end of the year is drawing near and the new year approaches, what are you thinking?

New Year's Resolutions?

Instead of thinking new year, new me, what about new skills to continue to improve me?

Every years millions of people start their new diet, new exercise regime, new hobby, house clean, declutter all on the first few days of the year only to fall right back into usual habits by the 10th January (if not earlier).

What about this year instead, all of your achievements and wonderful life experiences are embraced and reflected on?

Everything you have achieved to date has improved you a million-fold.

Everything you have hated, lost sleep over, stressed about and cried over has not completely broken you.

You learned something from it (think hard, you really have).

None of us can see into the future and we cannot know what is held in store for us. We can shape our own future and do everything in our power to create a meaningful life for ourselves.

Perhaps this is the year that you start to make small differences.

Create that meaningful, healthy, happy life you have always wanted, the one you are always daydreaming about...

Take the good and the bad and think about what you'd like to achieve this year - a skill, a educational qualification, a new cuisine from a random culture, a savings goal for that holiday destination.

New Year's goals and resolutions don't always have to be about weight loss - you've probably tried that every year and not got what you wanted for various reasons. This year try something new. You can always focus on a healthier lifestyle in smaller ways throughout the year alongside your main goal.

Remember that too much all at once usually does not work - take small steps:

• A glass of water with one of your meals

• Take the stairs just once instead of the elevator (at the office, for the car park, at the shopping center)

• Eat a piece of fruit - just once per day (can you add that in for one week?)

• Try a new vegetable this weekend

• Read in bed for one hour just for one night this week instead of TV after midnight every single night

• Send a text to friend you haven't spoken to for a while - "Hey, how are you? Got any new plans? It's been a while, did you [insert comments here, such as - get the promotion? have the holiday? get a new car?]

• Take a trash bag and donate clothes and household items you no longer use (if you haven't touched in six months, do you really need it?

Everything listed here helps towards a healthier lifestyle and mental wellness - it's not all about diet and exercise. These are important, but sleep, social networks, friendships, meaningful activities are just as important for a healthy lifestyle.

Pick something that interests you and see if you can do it just once a day for week, can you carry on for a month? Can you add in a second thing after a month?

Take it slow.

No fancy equipment or gadgets or stationery needed (save your money for your real goals).

Best of luck with your new venture.

Take care,

Mental Wellness & Health