What Will You Make Better This Year?

Updated 12/2020 – inspired by a post I wrote for the Independent Grocers Alliance

As another year winds down and a new one begins, thoughts of resolutions are often on our minds.  Make the most of the turn of the calendar. Focus on small steps you can take starting NOW.

• Start by celebrating what you have accomplished or started. It’s easy to look at what we didn’t get done. Let’s flip that and think about what we did accomplish. Did you complete a successful project at work? Did your child improve in school? Are you drinking water more consistently? Perhaps you started walking several times per week. Write it down. Celebrate it. Continue it. Add to it.
• Find your starting line and be realistic about what you’d like to work on next. Before you decide to go at it (whatever your “it” is), get a baseline established. Talk with your doctor about starting a new activity routine. Ask for a referral to a dietitian to make a tailored plan. Get your labs done so you know where you are with blood pressure, blood sugar, and other relevant health metrics. Once you make sure that you are good to go, get moving!  Take one flight of steps. March in place during commercials. Walk between meetings. Increase your speed or incline if you run. Add strength training. Take a tap dancing class. Mow your own lawn.  The choices are endless. There’s no right or wrong. There’s just “do”. A few weeks or months down the road, you’ll be glad you have something to compare your progress to.
• Choose. One. Thing. We like to start the year at full throttle. This year, challenge yourself to do one thing and master it. Make it a habit. Give yourself time to adjust to new ideas and ways of doing things. Ask for help from the experts.

Happy New Year!  Let’s make the most of it by celebrating better choices in the New Year! I can’t wait to see what you do next and do better.