Before we get into it, a lil note…
Thank you for being here. I know not everyday is an easy one and I want you to know that I’m happy you’re here. I see you putting in the hard work. I see you asking the tough questions, setting boundaries, wanting better for yourself. I see you doing what you need to day in and day out. It all is moving in your favor. Bit by bit you’re getting better, healthier, stronger. Keep going. Brighter days are coming. The best is yet to come.
Hi friends! Happy new year 🙂
In the spirit of planning for the new year and setting up our year for success, here’s a fun yearly challenge to help us build healthier, stronger habits for ourselves.
This past year, we talked about how what you eat adds up and the power of daily routines.
It’s one thing to know what to do…
It’s another thing to actually do.
In other words, knowledge is only power when we apply it.
We can bridge the gap between knowing and doing through this Happiness-Project-Inspired yearly habit challenge:
Choose 12 habits to work (1 for each month)
Write out 12 habits you’d like to work on this year. Think about where you’re at in life right now and what you could use more of. Then match the habits with the months. Below is mine for some inspiration 🙂
- January: eat more plants
- February: do the little things without bringing attention to them
- March: get organized
- April: don’t take things personally
- June: eat more fruit
- July: wear more sunscreen
- August: spend time with friends
- September: mobility during morning and night routines
- October: get really uncomfortable once a day
- November: plan for next year
- December: ask tough questions
Being healthy and fit comes down to your habits: what you’re doing and consuming on a daily basis.
Focusing on one habit at a time gives us the space to explore said habit and adjust it to fit into our lives.
Explore
For the first two weeks of the month, we take the space to explore a new habit by asking questions like…
How will my life change for the better if I build this new habit?
pros, cons, how will this habit impact me in the long-run? how will this habit affect those around me?
Is this a realistic habit for my life’s situation?
some examples of unrealistic habits based on life situations:
- get to the gym everyday vs get a 30 min workout in everyday
what if the gym is closed or the weather’s bad? do you miss a day because of something you can’t control?
- read 10 pages vs read for 30 mins
10 pages may take you longer or less than 30 mins to read depending on the book or your reading level
What does it look like to have this habit going in the day to day?
visualize and really feel yourself doing these things
What do I need to do on an on-going basis to help build this habit?
same thing here, visualize the process and feel all the feels
Adjust
For the last two weeks of the month, we adjust a new habit to fit into our lives.
We start the work to incorporate this new habit in our day to day and work to keep the habit going.
This is where our explore research and findings come in handy. You already know what you have to do. Keep track of your progress in a Google sheet or doc for easy reflection and adjustment.
Wrapping Up
If we are trying to build multiple healthy habits at once, none of them get the proper time and attention. Lots of wants and wishes get swept under the rug for lack of time, energy, and attention.
Focusing in on one habit at a time allows us to create a solid foundation to build on.
Challenge yourself: Choose 12 habits to work on for the next year (1 for each month).
We’ve all heard the saying: “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Brick by brick 🙂 love y’all
