Happy Monday, everyone!
There is nothing like the start of a new month, especially when that month starts in a year that is not 2020. I've always loved the start of new years, months, and days because I feel as if it is an opportunity to start fresh and consider how I can be better in some way, shape, or form. Every day, I try to think about what more I could be doing for myself and others, even if I'm taking baby steps.
With so many self-help blogs, books, tips, it's hard to know what we actually need to do in order to better ourselves. Sometimes we are so bombarded with information that any advice seems daunting and overwhelming. I've found that at times, I'm pulled in so many different directions as far as what I should do with my life that I don't even know where to begin, which then leads me to not begin at all.
Although this is predominately a food blog, I firmly believe that all elements of health are crucial, whether that be physical, mental, or emotional health. I feel that all of the subcategories of health tie in together, and that we should slowly focus on building all avenues of our health up in order to become the best versions of ourselves. With so much to concentrate on, it's hard to know where or when to begin. The short answer is, there is always a new time or opportunity to start. If I've learned anything over the years, it's that we can always begin again. If we fail, we get up and try again. Every day is a new chance to be gentle, yet encouraging to ourselves and others. I've discovered that starting with simple, attainable goals has helped me to not feel overstimulated and discouraged by advice. Although I am not an expert in the field of health, I do find these steps have worked well for me.
1) Listen. To. Yourself. There are truly a million-and-one people out there giving you advice (myself included) on what to do for yourself, but ultimately, no one knows yourself like you do. You know deep-down where you need to start and how. Sit with yourself for a moment and concentrate on an area that you'd like to seek improvement, and usually the answer will come to you if you're not already sure.
2) Start small. One problem that I have with today's world is the message to "grind." Nowadays, you hear expressions such as, "Rise and Grind," or "I grind while you're sleeping." I despise these messages with a deep, fiery passion. Although I obviously feel it is important to work hard to obtain your goals in life, I hate this "I'll-sleep-when-I'm-dead" mentality. I personally think it's dangerous and belittles the importance of self-care and rest. The pressure to achieve immediately through blood, sweat, and tears discourages people before they even begin. Start with small, attainable goals for yourself and go from there.
3) Hold yourself accountable. I've found it to be very helpful to do daily/weekly check-ins with myself and my friends. Usually, I'll tell my closest friends about my goals in order to have an accountability partner. I've specifically asked some of my friends to check in with me to confirm that I've been doing my best to achieve my goals. Physically writing stuff down is also a helpful way to check-in with yourself and track your progress. Make sure that you're scheduling time to work on your goals during your free time and not during your busiest hours. If you work a 9-5 job, consider whether you should take time before or after work to concentrate on your goal. If you're prone to distractions post-work and find yourself to be a morning person like myself, start your day off right and knock out your goal first thing in the A.M. If you're a night owl, use that to your advantage and plan to focus on your goal during the later hours.
4) Don't be discouraged if you have an off-day. In the past, I would kick myself whenever I would take a day off from working on my goal. I thought that whenever I took a day off it meant that I would lose my routine and get off track. More recently, I'm finding the balance between taking time to rest and recharge and work at my goal. I've discovered that in order to perform at your best, you also have to take time to heal and take care of your mind and body. I've become much more productive when I allow myself to have a day to "turn off" and watch trash tv. Find a good balance for yourself and stick to it.
Personally, I've found these tips to be the most helpful for me. Giving myself grace while also celebrating my small victories has really been the most beneficial way for me to accomplish my goals.
What are some of your goals this year? What do you feel like is most helpful when achieving goals? As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Just remember, this is a new year, a new month, and a new time to continue (or start) to work on yourself.
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