Ah, the beginning of the year. The time when you’re bombarded with information on how to change who you are for the better and how to stick with it longer. We get it: Resolutions and the changing of the calendar go hand-in-hand. Heck, we’re looking to make a few positive changes of our own. However, aren’t you a tad tired of doing the same old, same old, every start of January? It’s all fine and good to want to lose weight, eat healthier, quit a bad habit, exercise more, and so on, but if you said you were going to do the same thing when 2014 kicked off, maybe it’s time to mix it up for 2015.
If you’re ready to really make a difference in your overall health–both physically and mentally, then it’s time to have a little more fun with your resolutions. Here are a few we pulled together that feel less like losing something from your life and more like adding something great instead. And who couldn’t use more great?
The old: Eat better.
The twist: Cook a new recipe each week.
Eating better often feels like you need to cut out everything you normally cook. That means about 21 meals (eating three times of days, seven days a week) need to either change or be completely replaced. Do you know how overwhelming that can be? Of course you do! It’s why the resolution never stuck in the first place. Instead of bombarding yourself with a complete kitchen makeover, start by swapping one meal you usually make with one new meal. It can even just be a healthier twist. For example, if you’re all about Taco Tuesday, try fish tacos topped with a cabbage slaw instead of your go-to seasoned ground beef and guacamole. The more new recipes you make, the closer you’ll be to completely overhauling your menu without making you crazy in the process. And the bonus–new tasty dishes and cuisines that you’ve always wanted to try.
The old: Exercise more.
The twist: Add adventure.
When you think about exercising, your mind likely goes to joining a gym or sweating around your neighborhood, be it walking, running, or biking. Sure, that’s exercise, but it certainly doesn’t sound like fun. It sounds like work. Change your train of thought to instead think about moving more as being more adventurous. That swing dance class you always wanted to try–sign up! Scaling a rock wall like you’ve dreamed about for years–go learn how! Your bucket-list trip of backpacking across Europe–start planning it and weekend training on trails near you with a pack strapped on. Getting a workout doesn’t have to be the same old boring treadmill trip it once was. It can be fun if you just do something that you’ve always dared yourself to try, but never had the courage to go for it. Make 2015 your year!
The old: Stress less.
The twist: Clear clutter.
All the gadgets and gizmos that are supposed to make life easier, sometimes tend to just cause more chaos. Stress is unhealthy for both your body and your mind. The sooner you rid yourself of the weight of the world you’re hauling around, the better you’ll likely feel. Yoga, meditation, counting to ten, and so on are great ways to help you get there, but those also mean doing more than you’re already doing. Adding another task to your schedule–even if it’s something good for you–can lead to more stress. For a new approach, start tossing things from your life that are unnecessary. Donate old clothing and unused housewares to charity. Clear off apps and games from your phone and tablet that are time sucks. Start saying no to invitations that simply don’t interest you. And even let go of relationships and friendships that are more draining and dramatic. Soon you’ll be seeing more clearly and breathing more easily.
If you’ve been repeating the same resolutions each year, it’s time to switch things up. Not sure where to start? Tell us in the comments what you want to change, and we can help you find the twist you need.
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Carrie Anton is a freelance writer focusing on health, fitness, and sports. She's been published in Self, Women's Health, Oxygen, and Maximum Fitness.
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