| How to Start Your New Year Off Healthy! |
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Browse through any January magazine and you are bound to find articles that promise you tips for losing weight, getter clearer skin, or finding the perfect man for ’08. Although many of these well-intended sources are trying to help us be our best selves (or sell us lots of products that we do not need) perhaps there are greater changes we can make for ourselves. Here are some strategies that may enhance or inspire you in your New Year: Find Yourself with Extra Down Time, Such as Waiting on the Train or at the Doctor’s Office? Write someone a letter. Rather than devote your fifteen minutes to reading last month’s People, you can use this time to reconnect with someone that you have not had contact with lately. Sending an old-fashioned letter (this is done by hand on paper) to an old friend or a family member who doesn’t get out much might be just the encouragement that they need but do not expect. (Your letter might be the only one they get this year!) Be Creative with Meditation You don’t have to find a spa or retreat center to get the benefits of meditating. Give yourself five minutes every day to unplug yourself from your laptop, iPod, TV, etc., to find a quiet space to walk, lie down, or just sit. These brief breaks of focusing on nothing lead to enhanced concentration to areas in life that you might need extra help in such as homework, acting, dancing or just relating with friends. |
| Stay Hydrated Ok, I didn’t want to bring up weight or dieting but this is really the secret to many diet plans. People often overeat because they are in fact craving water. Drinking plenty of water helps satisfy your body and skin. Given the recent studies that have found problems with Nalgene (those cute plastic containers that come in great colors have actually |
| been criticized for leaking hormones into the water), most critics suggest that metal containers (not made from aluminum) are the safest (at least this week). Cook Your Stress Away! In our fast paced society, many families have a hard time finding time to all get together for a home-cooked meal. Find an aspect of cooking or baking that you enjoy and find a new recipe to prepare every week. How many recipes can you discover for scones, orange colored vegetables or fortune cookies. Many people find the process of preparing food to be stress relieving. Think Outside Yourself Maybe you are already making good healthy choices for yourself and you would like to make changes in your local area or community. There are many wonderful organizations or clubs around you that could be strengthened through your service. It could be a clothing drive for your neighborhood, or a knitting night at a local nursing home. Your good deeds are appreciated by the people you serve and by future college interviewers. Organize a Family Game Night Friends are great, but your family has been there with you from the start. So, maybe it’s a good idea to spend a little time with these people you live with. If your family doesn’t already have a special time set aside to be with each other, take the initiative and suggest you start one! Going out and trying new things like white water rafting or just going for a hike in a local park could be an adventure you embark on together. And, staying in can be just as fun, and cost you nothing. Pop some popcorn and take turns breaking out everyone’s favorite board games! |
| Tell Your Favorite Teacher She’s… Your Favorite Sure, sometimes school is a drag. But even if you’re already counting down to summer break, there must be one teacher who makes the day a little more bearable. Whether it’s the English teacher who inspired you to try out for the school play or the gym teacher who let you off the hook when you had cramps, there are always a few |
| teachers who are our faves. Even if you have to make a visit back to your elementary school to thank a teacher there, why don’t you brighten up someone’s day--or maybe even their life--by letting someone know that you’ll never forget her class. And try to remember throughout the year that teachers are people, too. Interview Your Mom You know, the people that we live with and who have taken care of us were once young like us. Do you know what band your mom went to see at her first concert? Or the name of your grandmother’s first boyfriend? There’s probably a lot that you don’t know about the women who love you, but they’d love to tell you! Brainstorm a list of questions all about her likes and dislikes, her school days, and what she still dreams of doing. You’ll be surprised what interesting people you’ve been surrounded with your whole life. And maybe you could let her ask you a few questions while you’re at it. Start a “To-Be” List We all know what a “To-Do” List is. Maybe you write one out for yourself every night for the next day. Or maybe there’s one on your refrigerator, for things to be done around the house. Well, a “To-Be” List is similar, but with an exciting twist-- you write down things you want to be! Plunk yourself down somewhere where you can think, and write down all the things you would like to be. It could be anything, from “a good friend” to “ambassador to Brazil.” No matter what it is, if want to be it, write it down. And then break it down into steps that seem maybe a little more possible. For example, if you’ ve always wanted to learn how to swing dance, find out where you can get lessons. Then come up with ways you could earn the dough to take them, like maybe doing a few of those things on the “To-Do List” on the refrigerator. If you want to be a famous Hollywood director, start watching the work of the greats. If you want to be that ambassador to Brazil, find out which colleges have majors in Portuguese. You can be anything you want! Write it down and take the first small step. You can make up your mind to start making healthy changes for your mind, body, soul, and relationships anytime! New Year’s is as good a time as any, though, and if you start in January, you can track the progress of the goals you set yourself month-by-month. |
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