A New Year an Evolving You

Happy New Year!!

Depending on on just how crazy your own send off to 2010 was last night you could be reading this on the morning of the great 1-1-11, the afternoon, ooooor right at the tail end of the day! :) At any rate, while we've already established that we're not into the whole "I'm gonna get fit this year!" in the traditional New Year's Resolution kind of way, that doesn't mean that you can't use this as an opportunity to reflect on where you are right now and where you'd like to be.

Think of it kind of like taking stock, and that doesn't pertain solely to health and fitness alone. Think of areas in your life that you are happy about, remember those, and then look for areas where you can improve. If you find a glaring aspect that you aren't happy about, think of things that perhaps you can do to change that. Some areas may seem out of your control, but then shift your outlook on them and see if there isn't a way you can at least improve the situation (or how you feel about it) so it isn't weighing on you. Often acknowledging you just can't do anything and accepting you're just strapping in for the ride can ease some pressure and help you 'let go.' For certain relationships, holding onto grudges or getting worked up over anothers' actions isn't doing you any favors and that added stress isn't good for your health.

But back to aspects of your life that can be used as catalysts for improvement in the future. Think of those missed zzzzz's, for while coffee may act as a mask and help you keep on plugging it isn't really helping the situation. Set a timer a half hour before you should be in bed and then power down, brush your teeth, and hit the sack. Looking to get ahead in your job; make a list of things that can help you actively get ahead. Writing down your goals makes them much more concrete and is something that some of the most successful people acknowledge they do. This then parlays over to your fitness routine, think of your workouts as appointments, write them down, and stick to them. You can even have that gratifying experience of checking off that appointment when you've stuck to it!

Finally, it's been said that you can think of a new year as a clean slate, that you can wipe away all the things from the past and start anew. In one sense that can feel empowering, but then again you shouldn't forget all the things that have happened in your life thus far...the good and the bad. Cliched as it may sound you most likely have learned something from the bad, and if you are still struggling use that as motivation to take steps to change that. Exercise is also a perfect outlet to sweat out those frustrations and retain some sanity in crazy times.

So let's welcome a new year, but no matter the areas in your life that you are unhappy with, it doesn't need to be a new you, but rather a work in progress you...so take stock, write some goals, then get to doing!