Happy New Year!
I am actually not into New Years Resolutions. Shocking, I know. I do love working on new intentions and habits though and usually have personal and business goals that I am working on. This year in particular I am thinking more about intentions and small habits.
We make resolutions to lose weight, to eat better, get healthy, start exercising, quit smoking or drinking alcohol, or to get organized, etc. Those are all great areas to work on, however, they are big and often we just want the end result which cannot come soon enough. We haven’t considered the small steps needed to get there. The rate of failure around these goals is huge.
So, let’s consider this. What if you think about intentions and how you want to feel instead of big goals that you know might not work? Think about working on small habits that you can do daily. After awhile they just become a part of who you are. These can be small steps to get you to where you want to go.
As you can see, they don’t have to be big. And working on these as ongoing habits can really make a huge difference in the long run.
Have you read Atomic Habits by James Clear? It is such a game changer!
“The process of behaviour change always starts with awareness. You need to be aware of your habits before you can change them.”
Here are some ideas about habits from his book:
“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement. Getting one percent better every day counts for a lot in the long run.”
“The most effective way to change your habits is to focus not on what you want to achieve, but on who you wish to become.”
“Your identity emerges out of your habits. Every action is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”
Some Easy Habits to Work On:
Making your bed every day – it feels so good to walk into your bedroom and see that the bed is made. It only takes a couple of minutes (if that) and It means you can lay down and have a nap or maybe meditate for awhile. (Get Organized)
Folding your laundry when it comes out of the dryer – this saves you time later and avoids those wrinkles that can occur. It also helps you to stay on top of the laundry which helps you to have clean and unwrinkled clothes when you are looking for what to wear. (Get Organized)
Doing the dishes once or twice a day and keeping up with them – means you have room to cook a meal and to find the dishes and utensils you need when you need them. (Get Organized, Get Healthy)
Tidying up on a daily basis – when you leave a room take something with you to put away or tidy up a bit before bed. This little hack will pay off in the long run and keep your place looking tidy and less cluttered. (Get Organized)
Sleeping better – going to bed at a regular time, limiting devices, doing some reading with an actual book before falling asleep, listening to a meditation, etc. Sleep is so important and helps us to be on our game the next day. (Get Healthy)
Exercising and moving more – 10 minutes a day, stretches before bedtime, going to the gym a couple of times a week, joining a program with others , a 10 minute walk, dancing to a few songs – keeps it doable so that it starts to become a habit. (Get Healthy and Fit)
Eating Better – add something healthy to your menu plan each week. Substitute unhealthy snacks for healthier ones. Limit yourself to one small bowl of chips instead of two. Whatever you can do that makes sense to you if this is your goal. (Get Healthy and Fit).
It’s really amazing how these habits can really work together.
How did I do on my new habits last year……
- I started to read more fiction and from an actual book before bed. I have been thoroughly enjoying this and find that in general it helps me to sleep better.
- Writing on a regular basis whether it’s in a journal, for a blog post or a possible book.
- We have had to change our diets and I have been focused on learning as much as we can about dairy and gluten free foods. You can check out my Pinterest page where I save all my favourite recipes.
- Ongoing habits of healthier living – alcohol free, yoga, walking (even if its 10 minutes at a time), stretching and meditation.
- I have felt so much more confident with promoting my business.
How is the New Year shaping up for you? Do you set New Years Resolutions, Intentions or Habits?
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Happy New Year and Happy Decluttering!
I love your healthy approach to the New Year. There’s nothing wrong with setting big goals, but making small changes is another powerful way to go.
The Clear quote, “Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.” resonated with me.
I’m still working on what I want for 2025. I’m a bit behind in figuring it out because of a deadline I’m in the midst of. That’s taking most of my extra time and energy. But one thing I changed last year was reading. I used to read before bed but would get sleepy.
Last year, I started reading after my morning meditation and journaling. It was a game-changer. Not only was it easy to do because it was connected to well-established habits, but I enjoyed it more and better retained what I read. And…I read almost twice as many books.
If nothing else happens in a day, I know I’ve done several positive things to ground myself first- meditating, journaling, and reading.
Hi Linda, I find your comment about reading most interesting. If I love a book I have trouble putting it down and feel like I am not getting sleepy. I do wonder though about how much I am retaining and maybe morning reading might be better. Also, meditation and journaling in the morning is on my list. Thanks Linda
Habits are a great thing to form in the new year because they are, by definition, things that have staying power. Once you form them, they tend to stick around (good or bad!).
One year I resolved to light a candle every night at the dinner table. It was a fun habit, and one that wasn’t hard to form. It brought a feeling of “special” to the table, and also ensured I ate at a table (instead of on my lap).
I have a lot of habits now, but I keep my eyes open for new ones. This year I’m hoping to incorporate more mobility exercises to my normal workouts. I think my age is starting to show, and I want to protect my joints!
Seana, That is a great habit and one for me to think about as well. The only time we eat at the table is for a special meal or we have company. We usually watch the news when we eat dinner – bad habit lol Anyway, we can always think of things to work on. Thanks for commenting
I love Atomic Habits! It’s one of my favorite books. I love that you shared your new habits last year. =) I intend not to take things so personally. It is what it is. I want to enjoy more and beat myself up less.
Sabrina, Yes, totally agree with you. We need to be kind to ourselves first. Such a great intention for this year and one that we all can relate to. Thank you
I’m a huge Atomic Habits fan. I read a lot of productivity writing, and Clear is one of the few men who doesn’t seem to be writing from inside a bubble where work-for-pay and exercise are the only responsibilities one faces. He gets it.
“Getting one percent better every day counts for a lot in the long run.” For years, I didn’t take Italian because I thought it would ruin my GPA, then because I thought I’d never be able to succeed. And now I practice Italian every day, and while there was a steep learning curve, I’ve shown up to practice every day for 2367 days! Now, I’ve added Spanish, and while I’m only 6 days in, knowing that an incremental improvement counts definitely keeps me involved.
I wish the better sleep habits you describe were as easy to follow (for me) as the others. I’m working on an entire lifetime of not wanting to go to bed because I know I’ve got two hours of just tossing an turning ahead of me. (I read a lot of books each year, but never in bed; if I read in bed, I find myself being surprised by sunrise!)
I love that you shared your own habits. I’m still working on figuring out what I want from my year (beyond becoming trilingual?), but this is a great inspiration.
Hi Julie, Oh my I love your Italian example and now Spanish. That is really admirable and inspiring. I am glad I inspired you as well. Thank you
Kim, Thanks for sharing the habits that you are working on. Like you, I don’t really believe in New Year’s Resolutions. I do write down goals for the new year, but I support them with time allocated for reminders or carry through for new habits. Some of the things I will be working on this year: Drinking 480z of water a day, writing 15 minutes every morning, making small changes to my website, getting together with family and friends (with more specific goals and structures to support that).
Hi Jill
I love your goals – time allocated for specific goals would be so helpful for me – they are so doable. Thanks so much for commenting.
This will definitely help me getting into the habit of using my Decluttering Journal that you wrote. I’m hoping for more success with journaling this year & creating good habits
Jan xx
Thanks so much Jan – That is so good to hear and I am cheering you on.