Let’s face it; any goals and resolutions we had for 2020 had gone out of the window by early March, as we quickly became less concerned with getting a new 10k PB and more worried about making the perfect banana bread.
But 2021 is a fresh start; the world may not be totally ‘normal’, but we know a little more about our own abilities to cope with a lockdown and what works for us.
A new year is always a good time to set new goals, and here we’re going to take a look at how you can do that in a realistic, achievable way.
How to Set Goals You’ll Actually Stick To
Always make sure that any goals you set are specific, realistic, achievable and have a ‘why’ behind them. Why do you want to lose 5lb? Why do you want a new personal best? Why do you want to do yoga every morning when you’ve never even attempted a downward dog before now? Remember the reason and keep it front of mind whenever you find yourself tempted to stray.
You might want to separate your goals into short-term ones and long-term ones; maybe you’d like to achieve something by March or in six months’ time. Or maybe you’d like to work towards where you see yourself 12 months from now.
With this in mind, here are five ideas for goals to go after in 2021:
1. Nourish Your Body Better
Instead of setting yourself the goal of losing weight or going on a particular diet, a more achievable goal can be to strive to nourish your body better.
Make sure you’re building your meals around nutritious fruits, vegetables and lean protein sources, and try to work in foods rich in a range of different vitamins.
To enhance a healthy diet, consider taking multivitamins - you'll find some great options from the likes of Klean Athlete and Garden of Life at Every Health.
2. Start Your Mornings with Yoga
You might have good intentions to go for a run or do a workout first thing every morning, but it can be difficult to motivate yourself when it’s cold and dark, which can leave you feeling guilty.
Instead, you could challenge yourself to start your days with yoga. This is a great way to get your body moving and your blood flowing, all while staying at home (and even while wearing your pyjamas if you like).
You don’t need any special equipment to work yoga into your routine either; yoga mats are great, but you could use a comfy blanket laid out on your floor.
3. Appreciate the Outdoors More
When we unexpectedly found ourselves told to ‘stay home’ for the first time in 2020, we started to appreciate time spent outdoors more than ever before.
Rather than challenging yourself to run 5k around your local park every week, set yourself the goal of walking outside every day - even if it’s just around your garden, getting outdoors for some vitamin D can give your mood (and potentially your health and wellbeing) a boost.
4. Be More Mindful
Mindfulness doesn’t have to be all about finding the time to meditate, although that can of course be part of it.
Mindfulness could be something as simple as finding the time to write down three things you’re grateful for at the end of each day or perhaps sitting down to eat a meal at the table a few times a week with no distractions, letting yourself take your time to really appreciate the flavour, texture and aroma of your food.
5. Prioritise Your Sleep
Make 2021 the year you finally get into good sleep habits. The secret? A good bedtime routine.
Going through the same rituals each evening allows your body to get into the habit of winding down, which will help to clear your mind before you go to sleep. After a good night’s rest, you’ll have more energy the next day to keep chasing your goals.
Take time away from any tech devices before bed, put your phone where you can’t see, reach or hear it and make yourself a soothing bedtime drink; try warm milk, a chamomile tea or Garden of Life’s Organics Herbal Golden Powder.
Self-care is the ultimate goal; create your own wellness bundle with Every Health today.
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