2018 Reflections & 2019 Intentions
News Years Resolutions seem to have gotten a bad rap these days. Which is probably fair, given most resolutions tend to be drastic changes that people abandon within a month or two. But when New Years Resolutions are actionable habits or intentions – I’m all for it.
Plus, I’m always for an excuse to look back and reflect. Granted you don’t need a new year to do this, you could do this every month, or hell, whenever you want to, but there is something about the end of the year that serves a great benchmark for some self-reflection. When looking back at the year, I have a tendency to look back and focus on what went wrong. What didn’t happen. What I wish happened differently. What I don’t like about myself from the past year, etc. And yes that self-awareness has its place (if i’m running around being an asshole to everyone, I should probably take stock of that). But celebrating our accomplishments is SO important. And something we don’t do enough as a society.
So this year, I’m celebrating the good things that happened in 2018, and I encourage you to do the same!
In 2018, I’m happy that I:
- started my ucsd nutrition program in january
- quit a job that was making me miserable & started a new one
- launched Elyse Wellness in july (holla)
- traveled to bali
- started therapy
- celebrated the engagements, weddings & pregnancies of so many of my best friends
- spent my first year living alone
As for 2019, most of my goals and intentions are centered on Elyse Wellness – finishing my nutrition program, clarifying my health coaching offerings, becoming more consistent with posting and emails. And my personal resolutions and intentions reflect that – mainly, to start focusing on the long-term, and applying that long-term view to my daily choices. Would happy hour be fun? Sure, but is it getting me closer or further away from the life I ultimately want? You get the idea. And a big component of that for me is getting past my people-pleasing nature, and getting comfortable saying no.
Looking for a new years resolution of your own? Here are some simple, actionable changes you can incorporate to make 2019 great:
NUTRITION
- Cook! I can pretty much guarantee no matter WHAT you’re cooking at home, it will be better for you than what you’re eating at a restaurant. Plus cooking is a great way to get in touch with food – the more you cook the more you will start to care about the quality of the ingredients and appreciate food as fuel for your body.
- Upgrade your oils. Make the move to only the good stuff – high-quality extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, mct oil, ghee. Just say no to canola, vegetable, soybean, corn oils in 2019.
- Limit sugar. Now if you love sugar, this doesn’t have to be all or nothing. What about limiting dessert to only ones made from scratch? Or switching the majority of your sweet tooth cravings to sugar alternatives like stevia or monk fruit?
- Commit to sustainably & ethically raised animal products. If you eat meat, start buying pasture-raised eggs & chickens, grass-fed meat, and wild-caught fish. Yes, it’s more expensive, but you can always consume less – most of us don’t need to be eating that much meat anyway (win-win). Even better? Get your meat from a local farmers market.
- Eat mindfully. AKA when you’re eating, JUST EAT. Don’t scroll instagram, don’t watch TV, don’t work. Just eat. Eat slowly and chew each bite before taking another one. It sounds so simple but you’d be shocked how weird it feels if you’re used to multi-tasking through meals (like me).
LIFESTYLE
- Meditate. Yeah we get it, meditation is good for you. But for real, it is, and everyone can carve out 5-10 minutes a day. Plus meditation isn’t just for yogis anymore, all the high-performers are doin it. Headspace’s free 10 day trial is a great place to get started.
- Focus on recovery & mobility. Are you the kind of person who grinds it out in the gym everyday and never misses a high-intensity workout? Maybe its time to focus on promoting your body’s longevity too. Try incorporating 10 minutes of stretching and foam rolling a day. Your body will move better, and your future self will thank you.
- Get your steps in. Aka walk! Walk instead of drive or uber. Take the stairs. Do a lap around the office every hour. Focus on being less sedentary.
- Consume less. Shop less. Buy less stuff. Consume less TV. Less social media.
PERSONAL GROWTH
- Stop complaining. How much of your life do you spend complaining? How much of your conversations with friends, coworkers, or your partner are negative in nature? It’s human nature to look for the bad stuff, but imagine giving more of your energy and attention to the all GOOD stuff. I guarantee there is more good to be grateful for than you realize.
- Be vulnerable. Tell people how you feel. Tell people what they mean to you. Share the not-so-nice shadow parts of yourself you tend to hide. Yes, its scary. But it’s the only way to deep, meaningful connections. Start here for some motivation.
- Travel. Save your money and take the trip you’ve always wanted to. If you need a place to start, I recommend Bali?
- Start something. You know that thing you keep thinking about but convince yourself its not the right time? Or that you don’t have the resources or the skills or the education? Just go for it.
