General, Healthy Habits

2023 Habit Challenge: Choose 12 habits to work on in 2023 (1 for each month)

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 2023 and setting up the year for success, here’s a fun 2023 challenge to help us build healthier, stronger habits for ourselves.

This past year (2022), 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 habit challenge:

Choose 12 habits to work on in 2023 (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 in 2023 (1 for each month).

We’ve all heard the saying: “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Brick by brick bitches 🙂 love y’all

Goals

Find your sacred spot

It could be a little nook in the corner of the house, your bedroom, a writing desk, where ever you feel relaxed and inspired.

Fill your space with things that bring you joy…

Plants, pillows, a candle, blanket maybe, some good books, incense, a journal.

Use your sacred space to set morning intentions, as a retreat to decompress, when you need a lift in spirits, when you want to ponder or create.

Play some Classical Relaxation or Native American Flute on Pandora to set the mood…

And enjoy this sacred place you created for yourself.

Goals

How do you deal?

When something bothers you, how do you deal with it?

Do you stomp your feet?

Do you accept without resistance?

Do you pop off at the first sign of opposition?

Or do you keep your reactions in line with your values?

Growing up, my mom taught me to express myself physically and verbally (the Philly attitude that we all know and love lol) but as I got older I realized that I can choose how I react… and my life changed forever.

I don’t get into altercations with others like I did before, things that used to bother me no longer have the same effect. My life is evolving for the better because my reactions are better.

I now take a second to breathe and think how I want to respond. I accept and do what I can in the moment. I try to see it from all sides. And I try to hold compassion and empathy forefront.

So how do you deal?

Goals

Taking a walk

Hearing wind chimes, birds, lawn mowers.

Smelling fresh air, the flowers and greenery.

Seeing houses, cars, people, stores, streets, animals, plants.

Feeling my phone in my hand, champ’s leash on my arm, and socks on my feet. Also feeling grateful, a little hungry, sweaty, and inspired.

Tasting peppermint.

Thinking about the moment. Grounding myself in the now.

Goals

Progress over perfection

Ben Franklin implemented a values chart.

On the chart, he listed the habits he’d strive to do on the daily.

If he didn’t do a habit that day, he would make a small red x.

He started to see the habits that were easier than others to implement and adjusted accordingly.

The values chart is something to live up to however when we fail to do something, we have the opportunity to learn and grow.

And that’s the purpose of the values chart.

To lay out what we’d like to do, realize what we actually do / don’t do, and build a plan to bridge the gap.

The values chart isn’t about getting each day perfect, although that is the ultimate goal.

Goals

Embrace the day

Where do you find yourself now?

Maybe in a park, at home, at work.

How are you feeling?

Content? Present?

Uneasy? Anxious?

Is there anything you can do to make the very best of this moment?

Like taking a deep breath, showing gratitude, feeling joy, being creative, smiling.

Goals

You are everything you need

No matter what you’re going through…

You have the power to redirect your thinking.

You can think about what you’re grateful for.

You can think about peace and love.

You can think about ideas and concepts.

You can think about your own point of view.

When times get tough, let’s look inward and change the narrative.

Healthy Habits

Do Something or Do Nothing

If something bothers you, stirs up emotions, or hurts your feelings…

You have two choices… do something or do nothing.

If you choose to do something this could be:

  • Expressing your feelings about the situation
  • Removing yourself from the situation

If you chose to do nothing, that’s that. You accept the situation as it is.

Deciding Do Something or Do Nothing

There is no right or wrong choice… more like a better or worse choice depending on the current circumstances.

Is the other person open to hearing your feelings about the situation with no judgment or criticism? Or would speaking your feelings aloud cause even more argument and pain?

Would removing yourself from the situation bring more peace? Or would walking away cause more pain and suffering for yourself?

Of course you should also consider moral, ethical, and legal principles in your decision making because they are our guiding post to living a happy, fulfilled life surrounded by other happy, fulfilled humans.

So whether you decide to do something or do nothing, if it’s right for you – if your choice makes your life happier and / or healthier – it’s the better choice. So go with it.

Stimulus ~ Space ~ Response

I put my hand out to shake your hand (stimulus).

(space to decide how to respond)

Your hand meets mine for the shake (response).

Something bothers you and stirs up emotions (stimulus).

(space to decide how to respond)

Take a deep breath (response).

NOW, you can allow your best self to decide how you are going to respond.

Wrapping Up

Use space to your advantage when something happens to make you upset or frustrated.

In other words, respond to anger or pain with a deeeep breath to calm your nerves.

Then decide… do something or do nothing. And act accordingly.

x Cor

Healthy Habits

One Percent Healthier

Living a healthy lifestyle is all about getting 1% healthier everyday.

This means creating daily habits consistent with your goals.

To live a life consistent with our goals, we work to improve how we eat, move, sleep, and think

It’s a (well worth it) 24 hour commitment that supports success in all areas of life.

And daily one percent changes will get us there very quickly.

Here’s how…

Overtime, getting just one percent healthier everyday, is like compound interest for your body, mind, and soul.

Every day, you are adding gain to yesterday’s principal, earning results on your results.

Doing something small each day adds up and will leave you with more of everything…

More confidence, more health, more happiness, and more opportunities.

Where to Start…

On your way to optimal health,

We’ll start by focusing on habits and behaviors that you’re currently doing…

Which prevent you from being your best self.

In short, healthy living all comes down to self-awareness.

What are you doing now that’s holding you back?

Maybe it’s what you’re consuming…

  • Junk food
  • Discouraging content
  • Misinformation
  • Negative self-talk / conversations

Or maybe something deeper like…

  • Avoiding someone
  • Hiding something
  • Suppressing deep emotions and feelings

Once you begin to take notice of what you’re doing on a daily basis and how you’re choosing to do life,

You’ll start to understand the long-term effects habits and behaviors can have on your success

And will be able adapt your actions naturally to achieve your most desired goals!

Happy growing!
x Corie