The Last New Year’s Resolution Maker

I have a confession to make. I love New Year’s Resolutions. I have been making them since I was in the 6th grade, and haven’t skipped a year yet (see below for my first New Year’s Resolutions written in cursive in my diary). Unfortunately, my beloved ritual that used to be considered novel and exciting now appears to be faux pas. All I hear is, “New Year’s Resolutions are worthless – nobody ever keeps them, I’m not any more likely to lose 10 pounds this year than I was last year.”

I’ll admit: I am an exceptionally optimistic person who loves lists and goals and vision boards. New Year’s Resolutions are like crack to me.

I’ll also admit: I get carried away and make a list of goals so long and ambitious that it’s hard to keep up with them.

So what? What’s wrong with being optimistic?

Maybe New Year’s Resolutions aren’t hard and fast goals but rather inspiration-makers. I cannot think of a better time to better myself – physically and mentally. Physically, after the holidays, I’ve hit rock bottom in terms of my health. I’ve just spent the better part of December gorging myself at office gatherings, taste testing homemade cookies, meeting friends out for holiday drinks and sitting down to one huge meal after the other. I feel bloated and lethargic, and all I see is the bleak cold Chicago winter ahead of me. I want so badly to be back to my active healthy self (and maybe an even better version). On the other end, mentally, I can look back and see how I’ve grown throughout the year, remember what mistakes I’ve made, and know what I want to do better.

I welcome this age-old tradition to kick me in the ass every New Year’s Day and the days following. I can’t wait to sit down with my old diary and a pen, reflect on the past year and think forward to the next. However, I’ve decided to make one big change to the tradition this year, and, dadadadaaaa….

Post my resolutions on this blog!

What is more motivating than putting my resolutions out there for everybody to see? Ya. We’re getting personal here. I would love your comments or suggestions on any of them. And even more so, I would love to hear yours! Okay, here goes.

1.     MY BLOG: Make this blog reach 500 unique visitors (I am currently at 102), and create new, informative yet entertaining content on a weekly basis. As always, please pass on the healthy stacey blog link if you know somebody who you think would benefit from reading it!

2.     MY NUTRITION: Get out of my comfort zone and create at least one new dish a month for dinner. Right now, grilled chicken, grilled salmon and sautéed veggies have out-stayed their welcome in my house. I’m ready to mix it up.

3.     MY PHYSICAL HEALTH: Re-define what “workout” means to me. I’ve already put this resolution in motion by quitting my big box gym and joining UFC Boxing. However, I’d like to push the limits even more with activities like aerial yoga and dance class. My rule of thumb: As soon as I become comfortable and/or bored, it’s time to move on.

4.     MY MENTAL HEALTH: Learn to manage my anxiety. Understand why I feel it, what makes it worse, and what makes it better. To do this, I am trying aromatherapy (love this stuff) and looking into meditation (I welcome suggestions!).

5.     MY RELATIONSHIPS: In friendships, work harder to keep them strong; at this stage of our lives, schedules are tighter, bed times are earlier, and in some cases, they no longer live down the hall. Staying in touch isn’t as easy as it used to be, but every time I make the effort, I kick myself for not doing it sooner. In my relationship, appreciate my boyfriend more because I never want to forget how ridiculously lucky I am to have him in my life.

Whew! Okay, I did it. Now it’s your turn. Somebody else share. C’mon! Don’t make me be the only dork who still makes resolutions.