Simple Life Hacks to Help You Keep Your New Year's Resolution

New Year’s Day has come and gone- how’s your resolution going? Many of us bail on our New Year’s resolutions about two to four weeks into January, so don’t beat yourself up if you can count yourself among that group- you’re not alone!

However, it’s never too late to get your New Year’s resolution back on track and set your sights on achieving your goals for this year. Here are some handy tips for sticking to that resolution without any excuses!

Let’s Get Physical!

One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is to shed some unwanted pounds or begin a new exercise regimen. Despite our best efforts, it’s not always easy to stick to our diet or to get to the gym. Try the following simple solutions to keep your health and fitness goals in check:

• Keep healthy snacks, such as pistachios, instant oatmeal and granola bars, in your drawer at the office. This will help you minimize cravings for sugary, fatty alternatives from the vending machine.
• On days when you can’t make it to the gym, crank up a playlist of your favorite tunes and dance around your bedroom while you’re getting ready for work. Not only will short bursts of activity raise your heart rate and burn calories, but you can start the day feeling invigorated!
• Trying to drink more water? Every time you get up from your desk to go to the restroom, bring your water bottle along for a refill. Associating an already-established routine with the need to drink more water will help you form a healthy habit.

Find Your Inner Bookworm

If you’re among the people who want to read more books this year, you may be finding yourself wondering how you’re going to fit reading into your already jam-packed schedule! Fortunately we know a few tricks for staying well-read even when you’re pressed for time:

• Download an audiobook version of your selected book from Audible or a similar app- you’ll be able to listen on the go! Double Resolution Bonus: You can listen to your audiobook at the gym while you work to achieve your fitness goals!
• Join a book club- having friends to talk about the book with will motivate you to read more than you may have on your own. Not only that, but there’s wine!
• Start small. You may be ambitious enough to want to tackle all the classic novels ever written, but why not start with a quick, easy read? Trying to take on a monster of a book right out of the gates can be daunting, and cause you to give up on your resolution

Just Say “OM”

If your New Year’s resolution to find inner peace through yoga or meditation has already gone from “Namaste” to “Nah, I’ma stay in bed,” you may need to fine-tune your plan to better suit your needs. After all, not everyone finds relaxation easy, and you may need to try a different type of yoga or an alternate form of stress management to help you accomplish your goals. Try these ideas for quick de-stressing on the go:

• Bring your yoga mat to work, and do a few poses throughout the day at times of high stress. (Note: this will work better for people who have offices with doors!)
• Find a class that combines yoga or other relaxation techniques with something you enjoy. Plenty of yoga instructors offer offbeat classes that may appeal to your quirky nature: for example- goat yoga? Totally a thing!

Sticking to your New Year’s resolutions requires discipline and dedication, but don’t let it get you down if your first attempt falls flat. Do your best to keep your resolutions this year and you may uncover a happier, healthier you!

5 Tips to De-Stress Your Holidays

The holiday season can be a magical time full of fun and excitement- the music, lights and infectious excitement can all add up to a beautiful season that is truly the most wonderful time of the year! However, with all the events, food, parties and gift-giving, the winter holidays can also take their toll on your emotional and physical well-being. Here are some tips for taking the stress out of your festivities so you can be free to deck the halls and light the lights while hanging onto your own inner joy,

Take Time for Yourself- The holiday season is all about spending time with cherished friends and loved ones: family gatherings, big parties and outings with the kids all make the season bright. But in all the hustle and bustle, it can be hard to find time to connect with the most important person- yourself! Taking a little “me-time” out of each day can go a long way towards keeping you centered and free of stress or anxiety as the holidays hit a fever pitch. Whether you choose to unwind with a relaxing bubble bath, cozy up by the fire with a good book, or make it to your morning yoga class, make sure to do something just for you each day so you can combat the delightful chaos of the holidays.

Healthy Holidays- Fun and festive treats are a big part of what makes the holiday season so special. Homemade pumpkin pie, iced sugar cookies and gingerbread are everywhere during this time of year, and candy is literally hanging from the trees, so you can’t blame yourself for indulging in yummy baked goods and sweets a little more than usual. However, if too many visions of sugarplums are dancing in your head, it could be detrimental to your health. Try to space out the sweet treats and stick to a healthy diet in order to feel your best during the holidays. Heavy, sugar- and butter-filled holiday recipes can leave you feeling sluggish, tired and bloated if you overdo it. Try to even it out with fresh fruits and veggies and lean meats, and drink plenty of water- you’ll be amazed by how much more energetic you’ll feel!

Plan Ahead- We all have that one relative whose holiday shopping begins in August, and that other relative who starts buying gifts for loved ones at around 8 PM on Christmas Eve. You can save yourself a lot of stress and hassle by splitting the difference, planning ahead for what you need to do and pacing yourself in the weeks leading up to the big day. Try to begin checking items off of your holiday to-do list earlier than you normally do, so you aren’t overwhelmed by the mountain of tasks that await you as the season ramps up.

Say “No”- With the holidays comes a truckload of events, activities, parties and other commitments that you will be tempted to try to fit in, even if that means having to sacrifice all your free time. Just remember, it’s OK to say no to some of these events! In fact, turning down a party invite here and skipping a holiday craft fair there may end up being more rewarding by allowing you to truly enjoy yourself at the events you do attend. As long as you make sure to make it to the most important holiday events, like your kids’ Christmas program or your best friend’s annual bash, you’ll be able to find the balance that will give you the most cheer!

Stick to the Budget- When you’re in the middle of a beautifully-decorated department store at the mall, or when your favorite shopping site is offering 50% off of everything during their Black Friday sale, it’s hard not to whip out the credit card and start checking off your gift-giving list. However, you’ll feel a lot less merry when you get hit with that credit card bill in January! By creating a holiday shopping budget and sticking to it, you can make sure you don’t overspend and end up in debt, which will lessen your stress considerably!

What’s your favorite way to take the stress out of the holiday season? Please share with us in the comments section.

Burn 100 Calories in 10 Minutes!

If you have a hard time fitting exercise into your busy life, this workout is for you! All you need is ten minutes and you can start getting fit and seeing results in no time! You can burn 100 calories in just ten minutes’ time by circuit training with this workout that can be done anywhere including your home or on a break at work. Get ready to say goodbye to flab and start looking fab!

10-Minute, 100 Calorie Workout

●     Run in place, high knees- 30 seconds

●     Jumping jacks- 30 seconds

●     20 pushups

●     20 crunches

●     Mountain climbers, 30 seconds

●     Plank, 30 seconds

●     Squats, 30 seconds

Repeat the circuit as many times as you can in 10 minutes for a 100-calorie burn! As you get stronger you will be able to complete the circuit more times in a ten-minute period. If you have longer than 10 minutes to devote to your workout, see if you can double up for a 20-minute workout that will burn 200 calories!

One of the biggest problems with working out is never being able to find time to exercise. Between your children, home, work and social life, it can be tough to spare a whole hour to devote to a fitness class or jogging. This workout is quick, effective, and will make your whole body feel great! Try it out and let us know what you think in the comments section.

What the Heck is Hygge?

Quick: are you into hygge? Chances are, most of you are staring at your screen trying to figure out what we just asked you. Is it a style of yoga? A new yogurt-based diet trend? A hip new dance? The answer is far simpler than you think: hygge, pronounced “hoo-ga” is a Danish concept based on the principle of finding happiness and comfort in everyday life. Hygge can be roughly translated to “cozy contentment,” and those who are inspired by the Danes to embrace hygge in their lives report a sense of enjoyment, happiness and wellbeing in even the smallest things in life.

Perhaps the best thing about hygge is that it can literally be anywhere you look for it, as long as something brings you joy. Being mindful and appreciative of people and things that matter to you can help you find your sense of hygge and lead a stronger, more purposeful life. Here are some tips on how to achieve hygge within your everyday life:

Get comfy- In order to achieve the warm, fuzzy feeling associated with hygge, it is essential to make your home and surroundings as comfortable as possible. Cashmere socks, snuggly throw blankets and warm sweaters with plush textures can all contribute to your sense of hygge.

Keep it simple- Hygge is all about finding beauty in simplicity. Whether you choose to embrace the simple life by inviting a couple of friends over for a no-frills, home-cooked dinner or by spending a relaxing evening in an overstuffed armchair with a glass of red wine and one of your most beloved books is up to you. Find the joy in the simple things in life and you’ll have hygge locked down!

Love your friends and family- Of course you already do this, but to gain true hygge perspective, try spending more quality time with your loved ones. Simply chatting around a warm log fire or relaxing on a big comfy couch and telling stories of good times past can deepen your connection to one another and give all of your an immense sense of inner peace and well-being.

Bring nature in (or bring yourself out!)- Connecting with nature is one of the foundations of the concept of hygge. There’s nothing quite as uplifting for the soul as a walk through the great outdoors, breathing in the fresh air and feeling your heart pump in your chest while you think your thoughts. If you can’t get outdoors at the moment, do the next best thing and bring the best of nature inside the house with you: a well-placed bowl of pinecones, an antique vase filled with wildflowers, or a collection of pressed fall leaves will boost the hygge factor each time you look at them.

For more about hygge and what it can do for your life, read this interesting article from House Beautiful, and please let us know how hygge is going for you in the comments section.