It’s January… another chance for a fresh start to the New Year. It’s that time we reflect on the changes we want to make and try to follow through. Is it really that easy?
- Spend more time with Family and Friends – Let’s do lunch! Why not set aside one day a month on your calendar and make it count.
- Get Fit – The evidence is in for fitness. Regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else known to man. Being in good physical condition leads to better mental clarity, stamina and performance. Take this opportunity to begin a new fitness regime (after consulting with your physician).
- Quit Smoking – Beating the habit. Set yourself up to succeed, choose a stress-free date to quit (i.e. don’t choose a day before a big presentation), always keep positive, look for support and work day-by-day focusing on the moment.
- Pay Down Debt – According to a CIBC annual survey, Canadians have a habit of breaking their promises of debt reduction. It never hurts to take a financial health check to save more money.
- Get Organized – Organization can be a very reasonable goal. Whether at home or at the office. Tidying up clutter or managing your inbox will save you time and headaches. Unless you’re Batman, working in a dark cave of an office is not going to make you feel productive. While we can’t all enjoy the amenities of a beautiful skyline view from our cushy corner office, taking a few steps to make your work environment pleasant will help reduce stress.
- Learn something new – Take time to learn a new aspect of your business. For instance, some companies have their employees spend a day working in a different department to get a feel for how co-workers in that section operate. You can use the same strategy to reconnect with your company, its products, its customers and its people.
How to make your resolutions succeed? There is a study from European Journal of Social Psychology on how habits begin with planning, repetitiveness and eventually less awareness on our part to form a habit. Also, UK Researchers says, “it takes an average 66 days to form a habit” – that means if you make a New Year’s resolution to exercise or eat healthy and do it daily until March 7, it is likely to stick. Let’s keep positive and let your healthy habits work for you! ToolBox Solutions