New Breath, New Year

The New Year is a time for contemplation and reflection. With this contemplation comes the resolve for new beginnings, new challenges, and (hopefully) new successes. These New Year resolutions reflect our ability to look at past experiences, learn from them, and make a change. The problem comes with integrating this into your life in the way that makes the most sense to you.

Here are Some Guidelines to Making & Sticking to Your New Year Resolution

• Be sure that your resolution is specific and personal to you based on your past and current experiences and your optimal future.

• Baby steps! Do not resolve to change your life completely remember that we must first learn to walk before we can run!

• Have the proper support in place there is no need to do this alone, there are many people here to help you along your way!

• Nourish your physical and emotional self a resolution that focuses on your whole body health will help you to feel more grounded and better able to face your new challenges.

• Make your new challenge part of your daily life and make room for it in your daily routine.

• Reward yourself after reaching small goals that are part of your larger goal reward yourself with something that is matched to your resolution.

Naturopathic Suggestions for the New Year.

Although I do believe resolutions need to be personal and specific, here are some that I recommend to help you reach your full potential in 2010:

• Get your sleep! Try to be in bed by 10pm each night and sleep until 6am try this for a week and you will feel better able to tackle the challenges of the New Year!

• Exercise in the morning. Studies show that people who exercise first thing in the morning are more likely to stick to their routine and to report decreased episodes of anxiety and depression as well as increased general physical health.

• Eat a vegetarian meal at least once a week. The general North American diet is unbalanced towards excess saturated fats and too little fibre rich foods.

• Do something you enjoy on a regular basis. This can be anything from rediscovering your love of scrapbooking or reading to signing up for a new weekly dance class.

• Spend more time with the people you love. Your body and your friends and family will thank you!

• Organize. The more organized the space around you is the more at ease you will feel and the more enjoyable your home and office will be.

• Take one full day off each week. Resolve to have one day each week fully away from the office. Use this day to rejuvenate for the upcoming work week.

By MaryMacDonald - Naturopathic Doctor in Toronto and Milton,Ontario!