New Year's Resolutions - 2014

So, here we are, at the threshold of a new year and I'm debating what token effort I'll make to giving up something in the name of the almighty 'resolutions'. In our household new year's doesn't actually start until January 11th because of TH's birthday, which we must make merry for. So, having an extra 11 days to concoct a resolution I figured it might as well be something I won't miss too much because, let's face it, resolutions seldom last past the end of January. Last year I decided to give up swearing, but by February, I realised I'd cursed too many times to actually merit sticking to it any more. 

 

Then I read an interesting article that said it takes 21 days to form a habit. Hmmm...that quickly? Really? Intriguing. And the more my little mind pondered the thought, the more I realised that resolutions didn't necessarily have to mean giving something up (after all, we have lent for that) but it could imply taking something up instead. In fact, if the 21 day rule is correct, then lifestyle changes as part of a new year's resolution were doable IF you could make it past January....

 

 So, I devised a new set of resolutions with the intent of not cutting anything out, but instead taking things up, and slowly, slowly (catch the monkey?!) start some much needed lifestyle changes. And here are my NEW new year's resolutions - let the 21 day challenge and the new experiences begin (well, on Jan 11th):

 

• Drink 1 litre of water a day - My mantra has always been; unless it's wine it just doesn't get drunk. Yes, I wake up every morning with a mouth as dry as Gandhi's flip flop, but I've learned to live with it. But not anymore! As part of IVF I have to remain very, very hydrated, so this is my attempt at changing my lifetime of dehydrative behaviour to enhance my chances of successful IVF (and hopefully have better skin along the way!)
• Eat at least three vegetables/fruit a day - Yes, I know you're supposed to eat 5 a day, but I'm being realistic in my goals here. I actually love fruit and veg, the problem is I love junk food more. So, when I go to the cupboard to get something to eat I find it's the snack food that's winking at me and not the fruit. When TH is home we have at least two veg with every meal, but when he's not here (4 nights a week) I tend to eat microwave meals and junk food. Now, in the past I would have tried to quit the junk food and instant foods, but this would last a week at most. This time I'm telling myself I can keep having the junk, but I have to have fruit as well, and I have to have it BEFORE the junk - that way I'm hoping the need for junk will decrease over time.
• Do at least 3 exercises a week - I am your proverbial couch potato. I'm a slob. The thought of physical exercise is abhorrent to me. I'm in no way, shape, or form anatomically built for exercise; I have asthma so running is out of the question, I get shin splints very quickly so high impact anything is impossible, and I have a large chest that gives me a black eye every time I so much as venture a bunny hop. But, exercise doesn't have to be labour-intensive and physically-impeding. It just has to involve getting off the couch for 20 mins three times a week and doing something other than walking back and forth to the pub, or letting the dogs off the leash in the local park.
• Read 12 books - I actually got this idea from a friend who set herself this challenge last year, and I thought it was a great idea. So, consider it pilfered! I love to read, but the first time I picked up a book last year was August, and I then devoured 4 books in the space of a month having realised how much I loved it and missed it. Not this year though; this year I aim to read one book a month.
• Have 12 new experiences that challenge me - This is also pilfered from the above friend, but I put a slight twist on it in the form of challenges. I was fortunate to have many wonderful new experiences last year, but I also realised I avoided some potential experiences because of inner insecurities and things falling outside my 'comfort zone'. This year I want to challenge my comfort zone and stretch those boundaries, but no, I will not now, or ever sky dive. That's beyond comfort zone parameters and into downright insane territory. I have enough issues getting onto the damned plane at ground level, never mind tossing myself out of it at 20,000 feet. Nutters.
• Lose that blasted last stone (14lbs/6kg) - I'm going to be forty this year, and doggone it I'm going to be fabulous if it kills me! I lost 5 stone (70lbs/32kg) last year, but that last stone has evaded me. I'm hoping with the measures above I will lose that last 1 stone/14lbs/6kg and enter my 40th year as the true diva/goddess that I was always meant to be!
• Start a blog - Oh, look and here it is! It's been something I've wanted to do for a long, long time, but as usual life gets in the way and I never got round to it. But now the seed has been sown, so let's hope it blossoms nicely.

          To anyone who'd like to offer support in my new year's endeavours I welcome it     
          wholeheartedly. To everyone else, I'll see you down the pub!