It’s 2017 – Happy New Year to everyone out there in interweb land. May the New Year be good to you, and bring you all you wish for.

This year, instead of a jaw-droppingly tough, probably unrealistic, therefore likely to bomb, ‘NY resolutions’ list, I’m planning to do things a little differently.

Yes folks, 2017 will be the ‘Year of the tweak!’

Let me explain….

Resolutions are widely acknowledged to be pretty hard to stick to, and can even do more harm than good. Anyone who’s experienced that pivot point, usually about 2 weeks into a new regime will know what I mean. Willpower evaporates and we find that whatever ‘XYZ’ miracle eating / exercise plan we had signed up to brings us to crisis point / a major binge-fest,  followed by feelings of utter shame, failure and at best, disillusionment with the whole thing.

Sound familiar?

This year I’ve decided that the shock-and-awe effect of major lifestyle changes is out. instead, bring in the small tweaks, more easily woven into our already hectic lives and therefore sneaking under our own radar, like a ninja.

So, here’s my list of 7 tweaks for 2017:

1. Food:

Diets are out. Guilt is out. No food is forbidden (do you hear that, Carb police?) Just a little more awareness of what goes in, and a little more planning of perhaps 2 or 3 small treats a week, along with rounded, sensible eating and reasonable portions. A full on, technicolour, broad spectrum eating plan. BAM

2. Work/Life Balance:

Yes, that old chestnut. I shall endeavour to remember that work is never actually done, it will always be there tomorrow.  Therefore I shall be leaving work on time more days of the week than not, and not checking email at weekends. This is family time. Sorry-Not Sorry.

3. Friends and Family:

Put stuff in the diary, in advance (of course), and stick to it. Make those plans. Be the one to suggest the get together. Don’t leave it to someone else to sort. Just do it, life’s too short.

4. Learn:

A new skill. Something you’ve always wanted to do, but make it easy to fit into your life. Maybe just resolve to subscribe to a new podcast and make time to listen to it. Pick up a book, read a newspaper, watch a documentary on BBCFour. Do something to expand the grey matter, but make it fit into your life easily so it doesn’t become a chore. Sign up to do that PhD in your spare time if you must, be I’m suggesting something manageable so you don’t lose the will to live.

5. Exercise:

Don’t sign up to run an ultra marathon when you’ve never even run for the bus. Or resolve to swim the channel if you’re at doggy-paddle level. Start small and think achievable.

Do squats whilst you clean your teeth.  A few stretches while you wait for the kettle to boil. Just do something new every day, or on most days.

6. Down time:

Make like it’s the 1980’s. Turn off that blue back-light. The world (and you) will still exist if you don’t read the whole of the internet before you go to sleep every night. Promise.

#LessScreenMoreSerene

and finally….

Don’t be hard on yourself.

Small Tweaks = Big Leaps, over time.

Let me know how you get on

X

 

Originally posted 2017-01-10 20:30:24.