Low Stress Goals To Start Your New Year With Positivity
We are turning the page on a year I know we are all ready to leave behind. Who is ready to pivot and create something rejuvenating in 2021? Never has a fresh start been more needed for our world. My first instinct was to make a lot of big plans for the new year, but I found myself feeling stressed out by those big plans. Therefore, I talked myself down, and realized I need to hold on to my positivity and come up with low stress goals for 2021 and beyond.
Low Stress Goals To Start Your New Year With Positivity
Some things I’ve included on my personal list of low stress goals are almost ridiculously easy to attain. I want to give myself some wins I know I will hit. That isn’t to say we shouldn’t set stretch goals, or push ourselves to do new things or big things. I just believe we need to be especially kind to ourselves this year. Turning the page on the calendar isn’t going to magically change all of the issues we are facing in the world right now. It’s going to continue to take strength, focus and effort to work towards keeping our families and communities healthy and safe.
If you’re looking for some “make your move” motivation I hope this list will help!
Reduce Stress Daily
Let’s talk about low stress goals. What does that look like for you? For me, this means taking a few minutes at key points throughout the day. Starting with when I first wake up, mid-day, and evening. This provides me the opportunity to evaluate my stress level. I prefer to have a clear understanding of my individual stress triggers and address each one where necessary. This is extremely important. In addition, I invite you to journal and track repeat stressors that pop up and allow you to express that inner feeling of stress.
If you feel like you became a “stress” expert in 2020, because that was your default mode, 2021 is the perfect year to become an expert in reducing stress. Let’s get it!
To proactively reduce stress, I’m committing to a few daily practices. Starting with a large glass of lemon water (or for those that know me maybe a short non-fat hot chocolate), keep a gratitude list (writing down three things each day), being physically active, and connecting with a friend or family member. To keep it simple, I can do several of these things at a time. The idea isn’t to add hours to my daily to-do list, but rather keep myself grounded and start and finish my day on a positive note.
Reducing stress is an important step for your personal wellness and your health. If you only set one goal for 2021, I encourage you to make it a goal that will ultimately reduce your daily stress level.
Redefine Exercise To Keep It Simple (And Fun!)
My commitment to daily physical activity entered around the idea of redefining exercise and finding ways to keep it simple and fun. For many of us, exercise has changed a lot over the past year with our usual gym routine no longer being an option. I’m still doing yoga at home, but it’s not the same as hitting up my favorite hot yoga classes. When weather allows, I’ve actually spent a lot more hours outside hiking and exploring nature. However, for the new year, I’m looking for more opportunities to add movement into my day that aren’t just traditional exercising. Sometimes new gear can be just the thing to get you excited about exercise. So let me introduce you to the Bala Bangles. Photo below, they came with a cute travel case and I promise myself they will travel with me. In the meantime, the Bala Bangles will be a great addition to some of my modified and home workouts.
Now that winter has set in, I’m not as excited about super long walks outside. Nevertheless, this is the perfect opportunity to make a simple change and wear my Bala Bangles.
Getting in steps each day is healthy for the heart! It would surprise you the number of steps you can get in pacing around the house wearing the bala bangles. These little walks will become even more impactful. I’ve also decided to pick out a new podcast that I’m super excited about it and reserve it just for walks. This will give me extra motivation to put on my bangles and get moving.
Make a list of a few new things you can try this year that aren’t traditional exercises. For instance, I’m much more excited to do my hard core exercise routine when my body is ready to go vs spending a day lounging in bed binge watching Netflix.
Keep Goals Low Stress By Not Including A Set Number
In the new year, so many of my friends make lofty goals. For example; I will cook at home three times a week. I will read 52 books this year. If those stretch goals motivate, then go for it. I’ve made these kind of goals in the past, myself, and sometimes they have been really helpful. For this year, I think I will give myself grace and not attach a hard number to my goals. At least not a number I need to hit every day or every week. To plan for the unexpected, I’m going to go with goals that start with the words “more” or “less”. “¢ More time concentrating on activities that make my heart happy “¢ Less time spent on activities I don’t really love. This year I will stop falling asleep in movies! Ha “¢ More time learning new things. I want to learn more about project management to broaden my general knowledge. “¢ Less time scrolling on social media. I’m not checking out completely, but I’m not going to spend three hours scrolling on Saturday mornings that are all saying or advertising the exact same things. “¢ More home-cooked meals with new ingredients I’ve been wanting to try “¢ Less take out – Oh yes. Take-out and it’s convenience will get you every time. “¢ More time listening to new music “¢ More time with people who make me happy, make me think, and make me laugh! I fully believe you should take a moment at the end of February or the end of the first quarter to see if the goals you set are working out for you. When I do this, I might find I want to put some numbered goals on my list, but to start out, I’m keeping it general.Do That One Thing The First Week of The Year
What is that one thing? We all have it. It’s something that has been on your to-do list for months. I’m sure it’s that one thing that will only take less than an hour to complete. Do you look forward to it? Are you putting it off?
It might be setting up a doctor’s appointment that you’ve been dreading. Or cleaning out your email inbox and unsubscribing to things that you no longer want to read. Or cleaning out the drawers in your bathroom. It could be something super serious, or something that is just solving a small annoyance that bugs you regularly. Can you relate?
Let go of that stress in the new year. Commit to yourself that you will do the one thing before the first week of the year has ended. I encourage you not to carry it around in 2021. You might be surprised how good it makes you feel to get that one thing behind you.
Whatever your plans are for 2021, I hope you take some time to make low stress goals that will help you find joy and peace. We are all getting a fresh start together! Be kind to yourself and celebrate it.
XOXO,
BLENDstyles