The holidays are over and most people are back to work and back to the same daily grind – just as they left it prior to the holiday season. As quickly as it came and happened, most find themselves easily and comfortably returning to their routine days at the office, at home, at school, or what have you.
Although many make New Years resolutions, ambitions are often set high in hopes of making big changes such as losing weight, volunteering more, quitting smoking, traveling abroad, and saving money.
While all of these are excellent goals and have their place, I would like to propose that you consider making much smaller resolutions this year – ones that are 100% achievable and can add great value to your everyday. I’m not suggesting you necessarily give up your grander aspirations for 2015; I think it’s wise to aim high and do your best to achieve them while your smaller goals are being also being worked towards.
There are great benefits to making small changes that can have a systemic and powerful impact in your life.
We all have bad habits and unhealthy patterns that with a little attention and effort can be improved upon or avoided. Perhaps you always buy take-out for lunch, never take breaks, or have poor sitting posture.
To help determine what changes would benefit you the most, ask yourself “how can my current routine be improved?”.Maybe someone has even made comment on your routine; think upon what others have observed about you as well. This could be something about your work habit, how much coffee you drink, or even your temperament during certain situations.
To change these things involve small but daily commitments on your part.
I, for example, need to improve my sitting posture in 2015. While doing office work on my computer, I always sit with my right leg crossed over my left and shoulders rolled slightly forward. This habit of mine (which of course feels comfortable because my body has now adapted to it) is causing me to have tight traps (aka shoulders), hip joint compression and neck misalignment. Currently this means I have a stiff neck, some knots in my shoulders and muscle tension. This sounds far from serious, however, in the long-run this could lead to chronic headaches or even migraines, lower back pain, and susceptibility to hip problems. None of that sounds very fun! I’d much prefer to listen to my body’s initial aches and make slight changes to my every-day routine than deal with any one of these more serious scenarios.
So, what am I to do about it?
I’m going to set stretching reminders on my computer so that I am not sitting for any more than 45 minutes without taking a break to stand, move, and consciously re-set my posture. I’m also going to get a foot rest for under my desk, which BOTH feet can sit comfortably on as a reminder to avoid sitting cross-legged.
I recommend that you choose two things in your daily routine that you are going to commit to improving. Then implement them!
Here are some additional examples to get you thinking:
– In addition to giving your body a break from sitting, also make sure you give your eyes a rest from your computer screen! Look out a window or walk outside; recalibrate your eyes by looking at nature.
– Have healthy snacks on hand so that you don’t fall into the routine of buying corner store snacks when you need quick energy.
– Have homemade frozen meals on hand for evenings when you’re home later than expected and don’t have time for meal prep.
– Take a mini time-out when you’re feeling overwhelmed or frazzled at work. If nothing else, just take one deep, slow, and controlled belly breath in and out. This will help!
– Buy a supportive, ergonomic chair for your office so to ensure long-term back health.
– Keep hydrated! You should be drinking 0.083 cups of water per kg of body weight, every day.
– Cut/limit coffee. Invest in some healing and delicious teas. Be careful of blends that have additives.
– Get fresh air! Even if you have to take your umbrella, step outside. Fresh air and sunlight (if it’s out) are an instant pick-me-up.
– Do you work through your breaks? Start taking them. Your body needs that 15 minutes to rewind, recalibrate, and reset to get you through the following hours of work.
Additional things to consider that are simple and can give you and others a feel-good boost:
– Commit to giving one compliment a day
– Send a hand-written letter in the post
– Set a reminder to do a random act of kindness once a month, or once a week, or once a day – your choice.
Happy New Year to you and yours!
May 2015 be spent:
In health and happiness,
Jessica Budgell, Nutritional Practitioner
