It’s such a wonderful time of year and means so many different things to people. For some it’s about family, for others it’s about partying. There are many, many people that have no one to share the holidays with, and the revelry of the day just exposes that loneliness even more. Some get depressed during the holidays and even angry because of the excessive commercialization all around, with the focus on gifts and the emphasis on ‘perfect’ social activities when there’s just no money.
Other get depressed because the new year appears to be a trigger to engage in excessive self-reflection and rumination about the inadequacies of life (and a ‘victim’ mentality) in comparison with other people who seem to have more and do more. Self-love is so important, you have to love yourself before you can love others. A quote I love says, ‘you cannot pour from an empty cup.’ So here are some tips for starting 2018 on the right note:
Focus on the positive
Instead of feeling stressed out about all the things you have to do, try and focus on the positive side of it. The New Year can be about helping others, celebrating the season and feeling joyful. So, don’t worry about the 25 gifts you had to buy over Christmas, instead, think of it this way: You have so many loved ones in your life! Remembering that is the best way to figure out how to be positive.
Learn to deal
Here’s one of the best tips I can give you: Learn to deal. There’s always going to be someone that tests your patience or some situation you just couldn’t have seen coming. So just block it out or walk away. That’s called adapting.
Laugh
One of my favorite tips for how to be in the right frame of mind is to learn to laugh it off. If something goes wrong or doesn’t turn out like you expected, just smile and shrug it off. Getting upset won’t change it anyway!
Don’t vent
Recent studies have shown that venting doesn’t always make you feel better; in fact, it can make you feel worse! Re-hashing a bad experience, whether in your mind or out loud, just causes the same release of those negative hormones. You’re better off to just forget the whole incident and move on with your holiday cheer!
Do something for you
When things start to get down to the wire and you just can’t handle, it’s time to back off and fit in some down time. Between attending parties, looking for petrol, cooking, managing kids, and organizing Christmas parties, you have got to make room to breathe! So, have a nice bubble bath or whatever relaxes you.
Keep moving each day
Research confirms that physical activity is essential to human health and is also an important catalyst in your weight loss efforts. Exercise doesn’t have to be in the form of a grueling 5 mile run or lifting heavy free weights. The key to using exercise to fuel not just your weight loss efforts, but also your personal wellness, is that you need to do something to stay moving each day. Set 30 to 60 minutes aside each day for some type of aerobic or resistance activity. The best part is that your time can be broken down into convenient 10 or 15-minute segments and you’ll still receive the same health and weight loss benefits.
Set realistic goals
Often in our zest to reach a goal, we set unrealistic targets and timeframes. When it becomes clear that the goal can’t be met, our best intentions are quickly forgotten. Goals like permanent weight loss must be accomplished slowly. For example, create a plan to drop no more than 1 to 2 pounds per week. This allows our body time to adjust naturally and make the necessary metabolic changes to maintain our lower weight.
Set specific goals
Make a plan to achieve a weight loss goal. Chart your day to include 3 well-balanced meals and develop a calorie-controlled menu that will allow you to hit your target. Schedule physical activity at a specific time as you would a business appointment. Avoid generalizations about diet and exercise, and be specific with regard to intent and end result.
It’s okay to slip
Everybody is human and inevitably you will slip in your dietary plan. Fortunately, your body is very forgiving and does not assess caloric intake for a single meal or even an entire day. Allow yourself an occasional treat when you really need it to keep yourself moving forward toward your weight loss goal.
Join the HIIT squad!
There’s a New Year resolution fitness program in Lekki, it’s called High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and only needs 30 minutes of your time. Burn maximum calories in minimum time! Follow @hiitsquadng on Instagram.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance to everyone, thank you so much.
