Well, it’s finally here and if you have no idea what the next 12 months have in store for you then welcome to the club. Of course, planning ahead is always a great method of ensuring you get the most out of your life and resolutions aside, there’s plenty that you can do in 2014 to become a happier and more positive person.
It has to be said that starting any particular project or sustainable lifestyle can be undertaken any time throughout the year but, as we all know, there’s just something about that countdown and that January 1st date that makes new beginnings and best intentions very hard to resist.
If, like me, you’re not entirely sure where you’re going to be this time next year then check out the snippets of inspiration below and, who knows: if you can manage to maintain just a modicum of will-power and achieve just something that you’ve always wanted to do then good luck and have a great New Year.
A Little Bit of Goodness
Over the festive period it’s often a case of wondering where we put all of that excessive food and drink however, no sooner as we step on the scales does it all become clear. Why not try to put a little bit of goodness into your body in 2014 and cut out unhealthy options, such as: red meat, chocolate, sugar and overly dairy laden foods? It has to be said that managing a diet all year round is pretty difficult however, if you can start as you mean to go on then you’ll feel the benefits in no time at all.
A Friend in need
There’s a lot to be said for making sure family and friends are happy and well in 2014 and if you haven’t spoken to someone in a while or even made the effort to go and visit then there’s never been a better time of year than right now. The more time you spend with people that are closer to you then the more enriched and fulfilled your life will become and even if you begin to realise why you haven’t seen one or two particular people in a while then at least you made the effort so you can tick them off next year’s Xmas card list once and for all.
Something just for you
After all that cooking, cleaning and entertaining, isn’t about time that you did something just for you? A spa day, a shopping spree or just putting your feet up with a good book are all means of making the most of your time alone and if you can set aside a little me time more regularly in 2014 then you’re bound to approach each month of the year in a relaxed and happy frame of mind. It’s not being selfish to think about yourself and if you’re a busy mum or dad then recharging your batteries will no doubt make spending time with the kids all the more enjoyable.
Explore the Planet
At the top of most people’s wish lists for things that they’d like to achieve in 2014 is to travel and if you fall into this bracket then there’s just one thing that you’ve got to do and that’s go for it. If you want to plan your American holidays, south east Asia adventure or trip Down Under then all that you have to do is save up your beans and book your ticket. There’s no better time to plan your year ahead than New Year’s Day and from buying plane tickets to browsing travel websites, what better way to spend a gloomy day nursing a hang-over.
My Body is a Temple
Getting on a health kick needn’t be quite as strenuous as it sounds and gentle exercises such as: swimming, tai chi and walks in the country are all great means of easing your body into an activity that will slowly help to increase energy levels and help you to lose weight. Eating seasonal foods and avoiding too much alcohol is definitely best advice and when a healthy diet is combined with an achievable exercise regime then you’ll soon find that the old adage relating to your body being a place to truly worship certainly rings true.
Grow some Good Stuff
2013 was the year that I finally got my fingers dirty and back broken as I undertook an overgrown allotment. I seriously cannot extol the virtues of digging, weeding and growing (finally) on your own patch of land and after a fair bit of hard graft I’m hoping for a bumper crop come the summer. Of course, you don’t need an allotment to grow your own veggies and from window boxes and balconies to gardens and shared land, if you want to really have something to look forward to in the New Year then grow some good stuff and a smile will surely follow.
