We all know that the new year is a time when many of us pin a list of resolutions or goals that we hope to accomplish in the next 365 days. Most of us are probably also familiar that a great deal of those resolutions fizzle out by the end of February.
Sometimes achieving a goal is all about developing good, consistent habits to set you on the right track for meeting that goal. On average, it takes around 66 days to develop a behavior into a new habit … here are a few you might want to consider trying on for size.
Healthy Habits in 2023
Exercising and eating healthy are some of the most common resolutions people set for themselves in the new year. One of the best healthy habits you can adopt is drinking more water. Drinking water helps curb food cravings, ease digestion, hydrate your muscles, and transport nutrients throughout the body.
It’s also an incredibly easy habit to pick up! Buy a new water bottle and keep it by your keys before you head out the door in the morning. Keep it by your desk while you work and before you know it, you’ll be sipping H2O 24/7.
We hear it often: “Exercise more!” Easier said than done, right? Well, maybe not. Mental tricks can help you develop a good exercise routine. Set a reminder on your phone to do 2 minutes of exercise three days a week during a time when you know you’re generally not too busy (everybody can squeeze in 2 minutes). Increase it to 5 minutes the next week. Then 10… 20…40… working up to one hour. Before you know it, the habit is set.
Don’t pigeonhole yourself into one workout either, or you risk getting bored easily. Take a class at the Kyle recreation center for a week. If you live in Crosswinds, hit the treadmill in the Crosswinds gym the next week, walk on a trail, or swim laps in the pool during the warmer months. Pretty soon, regular exercise will be second nature.
Strengthen Your Mind
Put your Kyle Library card to good use in 2023 and make reading for pleasure a weekly habit. Not only will regular reading increase your knowledge of the world around you as well as broaden your vocabulary, but it will strengthen your memory and ability to effectively communicate with others.
And speaking of communication, a great new habit to work on in the new year is the art of listening. As Forbes points out, being a good listener can help reinforce bonds in both your personal and professional relationships. It might sound easy, but active listening can be tricky for a lot of people.
A few tips to keep in mind include trying to maintain good eye contact, don’t interrupt but instead focusing on what the person is saying, and waiting for the speaker to pause. Consciously trying to understand and visualize what the other person is saying can also help make you a better listener.
There is going to be a lot happening in Kyle in 2023, and adopting a few good habits at the start of the year can help you make the most of it. If you’d like to learn more about finding a home in a community that encourages an active lifestyle, reach out to the Crosswinds team.