We all make them, we all break them. New Year resolutions are generally a fail waiting to happen. If you, like so many other Australians, have made the same old resolution time and time again we think it’s time you made it happen. Read on for a list of the most common NY resolutions and tips to help you stick with them!
What’s popular this year?
According to a survey by Finder, health themed NY resolutions are definitely on trend again this year. Reducing stress was the most popular resolution, closely followed by getting better quality sleep. Around 72% of Australians (13.8 million) plan on making 2018 the year they kick start a new health journey.
So why can’t we seem to stick with it? Here’s how to motivate yourself to keep 5 common resolutions.
1) Get More Sleep
Constantly waking up without feeling refreshed? If you’re blaming a lack of sleep for your fatigue symptoms then do we have news for you. Quality of sleep is actually the most important thing. Healthy adults can function on less than the recommended 8 hours of sleep if they are getting uninterrupted, quality hours of shut eye. To give yourself the best quality snooze this year invest in a better bed. Try upgrading to a deluxe king bed if you find lack of space is hindering your sleep. Or for upgrades on a budget, refresh an old mattress with a MyDeal memory foam mattress topper.
2) Reduce Stress
For a lot of people their job is one of the main stressors in their life. But quitting and finding a new one isn’t the most realistic plan. The good news is you can reduce stress in just 45 minutes per day. Research has shown that practising art is highly effective at reducing your stress levels. A short session of anything artistic - from drawing to collage making - can help relax your brain. Setting yourself up with a range of art supplies will keep you on track to reduce your stress.
3) Exercise More
Michele Connolly is the author of How To Be Thin In A World Of Chocolate, all about losing weight without losing your mind. She says the key to keeping this resolution is making gradual changes.
“There may be a perfect time, place and type of exercise that burns optimum fat. But not if you don’t do it. It’s hard to start exercising - so don’t add extra rules. Do any exercise that works for you, whether walking briskly in a shopping mall, dancing around the house to 80s hits, or riding a stationary bike while watching Netflix. You’ll start an upward spiral, getting fitter, stronger, more motivated - then you can try something more challenging. But to get started, it’s better to succeed at what you will do than fail at what you won’t.”
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4) Save Money
David Hyman, co-founder and managing director of home loan site Lendi suggests looking at your mortgage and making sure it’s working for your goals.
“Make your mortgage, not just your weekly budget, work harder.
Homeowners should shop around and get a better deal by comparing rates on offer from different lenders. Use an online home loan platform that has all the major banks and other lenders in one place. By negotiating a better deal, you could save yourself thousands in 2018.”
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5) Learn Something New
It’s not exactly a proven fact, but we imagine less than half of people who say they’ll learn a new language this year get around to doing it. No wonder ‘learn something new’ is high up on people’s list of NY resolutions. But with technology on your side it can be even easier to stick to your guns and pick up a new skill. If languages are your thing then give one of the popular apps a try like Babbel and DuoLingo.
Impress your friends at your next big gathering when you tell them all about how you stuck with your New Year’s resolution this time around.
