This time of year means recapping the last 12 months and pondering what could've been done differently. It means looking back on great things, but also missed opportunities. The end of the year also means to look towards the future and make good proposals for the upcoming year.
It is, without a doubt, the best period to start new projects and take up new initiatives.
New Year's resolutions are a good way to try to change what we do not like about ourselves, but still they are hard to put in practice. Instead of making vague New Year’s resolutions, you should put in place an accurate plan for the Year: in the plan you should include a series of good habits to incorporate to your routine.
Here, we propose some good habits for 2015, make notes and keep following the plans. Be strong and you will benefit from your new life. Our recommendations start with the very much dreaded exercise topic.
Photo Credit: INFphoto.com
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10. Exercise
Every year turns out the same. You keep promising yourself to go to the gym, but in the end you are not able to respect it. So this year try to have a different approach. For example, instead of going to the gym you can ask to your colleagues to have a short walk after work. Just 30 minutes of physical exercise will make you feel better and healthier.
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9. Read books
Reading books is as important as doing physical exercise because it helps to decrease your level of stress and improve your creativity. By reading books you can spend some time far from electronic devices and your sight will be better off too.
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8. Cut down on sugar
Reduce the number and the quantity of sugary food is necessary. We all know it is hard, but is necessary for your health especially in the long term. Try to use some astuces. For example, when you feel the impulse to eat something sweet, drink an infusion of natural herbs which will make you more relaxed and forget about sweets.
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7. Use less of your phone
Mobile phones are part of our everyday lives but they should not substitute human relationships. It's become more common to see people in the same room not talking with each other, instead constantly focused on their phones. This is a bad habit because human interaction can make you feel a lot better.
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6. Help others everyday
People running around always in a rush is a fact of modern life, but not everything is about money. In fact, studies show that the income has a quite small part in our happiness, contrary other factors as volunteering or being polite has much more impact.
In 2015 try to be polite and help everyday in small things without having nothing in return, for example let pedestrians cross the street, they will give you a smile.
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5. Keep your agenda
Write everything which needs to be done. it can be a paper based organizer or an electronic one. It helps you to keep under control all your duties, to keep track of your achievements and helps with the stress. Being organized also saves your time.
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4. Smile more
It is scientific proof that smiling improve your mood. So why do not smile more? Did you have a bad day, just laugh as tomorrow will be better.
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3. Spend more time with your family
We often forget how lucky we are to have a family who supports us in the worst of times. So, we should set up habits which let us spend more time with our loved ones. For example if you use to going for shopping on Saturday afternoon, why do not ask your mom to come with you? It would be a good moment to have a chat and reinforce your relationship.
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2. Cuddle your pet
It might seem an unusual advice, but spending more time with your pet helps you a lot to cope with stress and anxiety. In fact, the so called pet therapy is based on the benefits that spending time with animals have. Cuddling your pet decrease your blood pressure level, reduces stress and increase oxytocin levels, which is the hormone of wellness. Both you and your pet will be happier for it.
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1. Ban pessimism
Habit number one you should take on is to ban pessimism. You should try hard, go against the evidence to eliminate the negative thoughts that make your life worst. Pessimism does not help, ever. If you suffer you must allow yourself to smile and be happy, only in this way can you recover.
Despite the last mention about pessimism, we hope you will have a wonderful 2015 full of joy and friends. Remember New Year's resolutions are a way to make you a better and renewed person. Try to practice them to confirm your strong willingness as a person.