New Year’s Resolutions. Stick to your Word instead.

Every new year we set about making New Year’s Resolutions, which at least 1 in 10 of us do not fulfil.  We then beat ourselves up, promising to do better next time and the cycle continues.

Last year, I broke the cycle. Instead of setting New Year’s Resolutions, I chose one word that I wanted my whole year to be about.  I chose COURAGE. 

I decided 2017 would be the year that I stepped up, faced my fears and courageously made major changes in my life.   I put my word out there and committed to it publicly on my own personal blog (AM1 Health – for those of you interested) to hold me accountable.

And what a year I had!  Every time I was faced with something new, daunting and outside of my comfort zone, I was spurred on by the fact that I had to live up to my chosen word. It kept me accountable in a way that New Year’s Resolutions never have.  COURAGE made me achieve so many wonderful things, which is why I’m here today living my dream all set to help you live yours.

So, ditch your New Year’s Resolutions and choose a word that works for you instead.  You won’t be disappointed!

Is your mind doing overtime trying to settle on that one meaningful word?

To choose a word that truly strikes a chord with you, ask yourself the following questions:

• What do I want to focus on this year?
• What do I want to do more of this year that perhaps I didn’t last year?
• Is there a particular attitude/mindset/approach I want to have?
• What kind of person do I want to be this year? What would this person think, do and feel?
• What do I want to accomplish this year?
• What kind of actions does this mean I’ll be taking? What words describe these things and how they will make me feel?

Write down any words that come to mind. Test them out on some of the scenarios that came to mind when you asked yourself the questions above.  Then narrow them down a shortlist of two to three, If you can’t settle on one word, go back a day later and see which one resonates the most.

Some of the words that resonate for me this year and sum up my vision and focus for the coming year are:

Bold, freedom, simple, family, joy, forgiveness, acceptance, grace, gratitude, positivity, confidence, trust, faith, present, fitness.

However, the word I’ve chosen for this year is BALANCE.  I was busy with so many activities in 2017 and sometimes the scales tipped too much in one direction.  I neglected some areas in my life so this year I intend to create BALANCE.  I rather like the word as it ties in with the main featuring image on our website (is this a coincidence, I wonder?!)

So, what about you? What’s your year going to be all about?  And, how are you going to stick to your word?

I encourage you to put your chosen word somewhere where you can see it on a daily basis - a post-it note on your bathroom mirror, for example.  Check in when you have major decisions to make or are feeling unsure.  Let it guide you to move forwards and make 2018 a year to remember.  You might want to share it with a friend and regularly check in with each other to see how you’re both doing, offering each other support and encouragement along the way.

So, please share your chosen word for the year below!  We’d love to hear what you’ve chosen and why, if you are happy to share.

On behalf of the team at Health Nation, we wish you a very happy and healthy and fulfilling 2018!

Alison
 
DETOX CHALLENGE

Overindulged over Christmas and want to get into shape for Chinese New Year?  Join us for our 5 day-online New Year’s/Winter detox/cleanse.  All the work is done for you – 5 days of recipes and meal planners, eating out guides and shopping lists provided.  Plus you’ll get access to a kick-off webinar where you ask any questions and a private Facebook group to give you the community and all the support from me that you need over the course of the 5 days.

If you are not sure if our Winter Detox is for you, have a listen to Alison's webinar sharing why it is important to detox/cleanse and sharing her top 10 Secret Tips to a successful detox.

Sign up before 10th January for our early bird price and a surprise bonus gift. Get your friends to join in too! ​

Check out one of the Winter recipes here featured in the Detox.​​

Oven Roasted Winter Vegetables

Ingredients:
•           1 red or yellow beet, peeled
•           1 rutabaga, turnip, or parsnip, scrubbed
•           1 sweet potato or yam, scrubbed
•           1 head broccoli or 12 Brussels sprouts, trimmed
•           2 TB coconut or olive oil
 
Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375-400 degrees. If you have a 'convection roast' option, use it.
2. Cut all vegetables into bite-sized pieces, aiming for relatively equal sizes to allow for even cooking.
3. Place veggies on a roasting dish and drizzle with coconut or olive oil, then toss to combine. If using coconut oil, you may need to gently melt it. To do this, place the coconut oil in the empty roasting dish and pop it in the oven for 5 minutes, then add the veggies and toss.
4. Roast for 30-45 minutes, depending on how big the pieces are. You'll know your veggies are done when they are fork-tender, meaning you can easily pierce a piece with a fork. Be sure to toss the veggies at least once while roasting - I usually toss them or shake the pan 2-3 times.
5. Store the vegetables in a glass container with a tight-fitting lid for 5-6 days in the refrigerator. Gently re-heat them on the stove-top with a little bit of oil over medium heat.
6. If you don't like any of the ingredients listed above, you can mix and match and substitute. Other good options are cauliflower, mushrooms, and even chopped up kale when added in the last 5 minutes of roasting.

 
Stuck on what to cook in the cooler weather? Integrative Health Coach Yelena, one of our resident chefs, will be hosting a Vegetarian Comfort Food for Cooler Weather demo and lunch on Friday 26th January so why not grab a friend or two and sign up!  Lunch and fun are on the menu!  Click here for more details and to sign up.