Why You Shouldn't Wait To Start These 4 New Years Resolutions

Don't wait until 2019 to be the best version of yourself.
by Alyssa Satara | inc.com

With the new year just around the corner, you're probably starting to reflect on the past year. Even if it's merely at a subconscious level, the ending of one thing and the beginning of another tends to stimulate the desire for change within yourself.

We've all seen ourselves (and others) commit to New Year's resolutions that hardly ever manifest. Which is why you should start preparing for that resolution now.

Here are 4 resolutions that you don't have to wait for the new year to start.

1. Working out

This is normally at the top of everyone's list.

If you're a regular gym goer, you've seen the trend. As soon as January comes around, the gym is packed--and by May it quickly starts to empty out.

If you want to incorporate working out into your schedule, why wait until 2018?

Start now--and try to pinpoint (ahead of time) all the reasons why you might give up this habit later on. That way, you can prepare for the times when you'll try to convince yourself, "Eh, I don't really need to work out."

Too many people make "starting" out to be a bigger event than it needs to be. You can start by just implementing exercise into your weekly routine without committing to a gym membership.

A lot of gyms have free trial periods. Once you've gotten in a rhythm of making time to work out, sign up and test a gym out for a week. Or you could drop in for a few yoga classes to ease into working out. And if you'd rather start at home, you can do that too. You can do all of this on your own of via YouTube.

Regardless of what exercise or activity you choose to do, simply creating the space in your schedule will allow you the opportunity to make working out part of your weekly routine--and that's what really matters.

2. Eating healthy

This resolution tends to go hand-in-hand with with the previous one. And while eating healthy is on the top of everyone's New Year's resolution list, it's a hard habit to stick to.

Unhealthy food can be addicting, and it's especial hard to be strict about your diet around the holidays (and all the delicious food that comes with them).

Still, this is an amazing resolution that you shouldn't have to wait for the new year to start. Whether it's cutting fatty foods out, or bringing nutritious ones into your diet, there's no "perfect time" to start eating healthy.

Today is as good of a day as any other.

More importantly, your entire diet doesn't have to change all at once. Try implementing one change, like cutting out soda, or ingesting more kale, and then moving on from there.

Last year, I found out I was allergic to red meat. It propelled me to shift towards a plant-based diet for my New Years resolution. I started by cutting out red meat before the New Year. By January I was hardly eating red meat, so I decided to cut out dairy too. In early March I cut out pork and chicken. And now, almost a year later, my diet is 97% plant based.

This seemed impossible this time last year, but month by month I chipped away to get results that felt good for me.

If you allow yourself to be conscious about your nutritional health now, you will have already made extreme progress on your resolution by January.

3. Being more productive

Reflecting on the past year may have made you realize all the little things you wish you had done but didn't have the time for. There is a reason productivity is constantly at the top of everyone's New Year's resolution lists.

Instead of waiting until next year, use the momentum you've gained coming to this conclusion to start trying to be more productive now.

Start that project.

Start working on the skill you've always wanted to acquire.

Read that book you've been wanting to read.

Productivity doesn't just happen. It's a habit that is refined over time. So the sooner you start being proactive about your productivity, the sooner your productivity will prosper.

This past year, when I was helping establish tech startup called Refugee Code Academy (RCA), I knew that with my full time job and hobbies I was going to need to make a shift in my life if I wanted to be able to dedicate the time I needed to launching a startup.

Even though I had a great team I was working with, I knew It would be time consuming.

So, before RCA got up and running I started practicing block scheduling, a concept where you coordinate your schedule by blocking out time for each activity. Planning my weeks (and even months) in advance was a headache, but it was well worth it in the end.

Each hour of each day had an activity. When I wasn't at work, I was working out or writing. When I wasn't doing that I made time to hang out with friends, and family, or to just sit around and watch TV. I became so organized with my activities that by the time RCA started taking up a lot of my time, I wasn't overwhelmed, because I had already been preparing for it.

Many of us feel the need to wait until the new year to develop that skill or start that project.

Why wait?

Start working on your routine now, and you'll start January three steps ahead of where you would have been otherwise.

4. Starting (or stopping) a habit

Breaking and creating habits is not an easy process. Which is probably why we wait for something pressing--like the New Year--to consider making that shift.

It's easier to put off things like quitting smoking until the New Year, just like it's easier to sleep in instead of setting your alarm to implement the habit of waking up early.

Whatever habit it is that you are putting off until the new year, consider making steps toward it today.

Regardless of what you want your New Year's resolution to be, you don't need to wait until 2018 to start practicing it. By implementing this "resolution mentality" into your life right now, you will create the space and regimen you need to actually stick to the resolutions you put in place for yourself this year.

The New Year is a wonderful time to set positive intentions. And the end of the year is a great time to start reflecting and manifesting these ambitions. Even if all you do is create a list, start thinking about and implementing your New Year's resolutions today--so you have a stronger chance of achieving your goals in 2018.

reprinted from inc.com

Get Yourself Back on Track After Thanksgiving

Did you eat so much pie that you are starting to look like a pumpkin?

Is the smell of gravy coming from your pores?

Did you learn the hard way what a food hangover is?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are not alone!

The results of a study by the Calorie Control Council concluded that the average American could consume as much as 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving Day. According to USA Today, that’s equivalent to seven Burger King Whoppers or 15 Dairy Queen hot fudge sundaes.

Too many carbs, too much sugar, too much booze…

Chances are you knew that having a third serving of your Grandmother’s pumpkin cheesecake wasn’t the best idea, but in the moment you just couldn’t resist.

The good news is that one day of overindulgence is not going to irrevocably wreak havoc on your system. There are things you can do to help get your body and mind back-on-track.

1. Show Compassion

For yourself! It is incredibly important that you challenge any automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) you have and avoid blame, shame and guilt! This type of “stinking thinking” is sure to sabotage your attempts at getting back on track.

Remember, when you have thoughts that are negative, mad, sad, hopeless or helpless, your brain releases chemicals that make you feel bad. Conversely, every time you have a thought that is good, happy, hopeful, kind or loving, your brain releases chemicals that make you feel good.

2. Don't Skip Meals

Don’t try to make up for the extra calories by skipping meals the next day. That just leaves you hungry. Plus, skipping meals can trigger your metabolism to slow down and can throw off your hunger/satiety hormones.

Instead, focus on eating lean protein and lots of fresh vegetables, while avoiding sugar. The protein and fiber in the vegetables help to slow digestion, which will help you feel full longer, and keep your metabolism churning.

3. Get Moving

Exercising is a great way to get back on track. But don’t do a mega-workout to try to burn off all the calories you just ate. Just get moving. This helps control cravings, burns calories and helps to balance your mood and blood sugar. Go for a long walk (walk like you’re late), or maybe do some lunges, squats and crunches while watching your favorite holiday movie. Exercise will induce sweating out excess salt and helps you regain your sense of what a healthy body feels like.

4. Drink More Water

Your body fluids transport waste products in and out of your cells, while your kidneys and liver flush those waste products and other toxins out of your body. However, this process can only work properly and efficiently if you are well-hydrated.

Research shows that drinking water naturally curbs your appetite. It can also help you feel better fast, because drinking more water flushes out excess sodium to help you quickly de-bloat. And it gets things moving in your digestive system to relieve constipation.

It is recommended that you drink at least 84 ounces of water a day. But who really likes to drink plain water all day long?

Getting back on track is important after Thanksgiving because the holidays have only just begun! You CAN do it!

reprinted from brainmdhealth.com

Effortless Tips to Avoid Overeating at Holiday Parties

By Locke Hughes | Shape

With countless cocktail parties, cookie exchanges, and holiday meals this time of year, even the healthiest eaters can be tempted go overboard. Sure, celebrations are a time to indulge, but you don’t want to wake up kicking yourself for overdoing it the night before. Fortunately with a few tricks up your sleeve, you can prevent total diet derailment—and still enjoy yourself—during the holiday season.

1. Indulge wisely. Allow yourself to enjoy those must-have treats that you look forward to all year long—whether it’s eggnog, mashed potatoes, or pecan pie—but keep in mind there's no need for an all-out binge-fest. "Research shows that the first few bites of a food are the most satisfying," says Elizabeth M. Ward, R.D., author of MyPlate for Moms and a member of Jamba Juice’s Healthy Living Council. "Savor a reasonable yet rewarding amount of the holiday foods you absolutely love, and remember that no single meal will wreck your waistline."

2. Recover the day after. To overcome that bloated "food hangover" feeling that follows a rich meal, eat a normal breakfast with protein, such as yogurt or eggs, the next morning. The rest of the day, avoid refined carbs, drink lots of water (at least eight to 10 glasses to help flush out the sodium), and fill up on "clean" foods like fruits, veggies, and more protein. "Whatever you do, don’t 'punish' yourself by skipping breakfast—that’ll just set you up to eat even more the next meal," Ward says.

3. Freeze leftovers. Store tempting foods in the freezer to keep them out of sight and out of mind. "If I freeze the rest of the pumpkin pie, I’ll be much less likely to eat it since I’d have to defrost it first," Ward says.

4. Snack smartly. Before holiday parties or while you’re out running errands, have a bite of something so you don’t risk becoming starved. Complex carbs plus protein equals the sweet spot for snacks. Some of Ward's go-tos are a small Jamba Juice smoothie with protein boost, a one-ounce package of nuts, fruit plus a mozzarella stick or Greek yogurt, or a KIND bar.

5. Double-up on drinks. When you arrive at a party, start with a non-alcoholic drink to quench your thirst. Then have a glass of wine, champagne, or cocktail, but always alternate with zero-calorie liquids such as water or club soda, Ward recommends. You’ll feel much better for it at the end of the night, and the next day.

6. Lie politely. It’s tough to say "no" to your boss or great aunt, so when they offer a treat, tell them thank you and take it. Say it looks delicious, but you’ve just eaten, then wrap it up for later—and if it ends up in the trash, that’s okay!

7. Stand up. At a party or buffet, get one plate, then step away from the food table but stay on your feet—it helps with digestion, makes it harder to keep piling food on your plate, and burns calories, Ward says.

8. Seek out distractions. After a holiday meal, get your mind off the food. Offer to clear the table or help do the dishes. Also try popping in a piece of gum or a breath mint. "It’s like brushing your teeth, so you won't be tempted to ruin your fresh breath with another piece of pecan pie," Ward says.

9. Divide and conquer. There’s no need to defile family recipes by reducing sugar or slashing fatty ingredients. Instead make the real version of your grandmother’s famous Christmas pudding, but cut it into 16 small slices rather than 10 monstrous pieces.

Reprinted from Shape.com