Hello 2024 Let’s Chat!
Hey friends, I hope 2024 is treating you well so far. I made a video on my YouTube explaining some things for the channel but I haven’t made any posts over here on the Blog. Let’s change that.
This year we are not doing any resolutions, why? Because resolutions will fail before you even get the chance to succeed, you don’t believe that? Well, studies have proven that by the end of January 43% of people will stop doing there resolution and the third Friday in January is referred to as “Quitters Day” which I didn’t know until last year. If you make it past January your next date to watch out for is summer where another 22% of people will fall off the resolution train, and those who stick it out to the end of the year are apart of only 8-9% of a success rate.
Wow!
How are we going to not fail our resolutions you may ask?
By not doing a resolution, instead lets do Healthy Goals and Habit Changes. You can say all day that “I want to loose 100 pounds this year to be more active with my family!” or you can say “This year I will get outside with my family more and do the activities we have been wanting to do.” In the process those pounds will shed off in the process of playing at the park, going on low impact hikes, biking around the neighborhood, and so much more. There is a challenge that I try to do with my family every year and its to spend 1000 Hours Outside, this means going to the park or the zoo, going on a hike, or just walking the dog around the neighborhood.
This challenge does a few good things in one swoop. According to the website for the 1000 Hours Challenge they list 100 Reasons to go outside, some of the benefits include “Walking for Natural Immunity”, “Vitamin D from the sun”, “Bonding as a family”, and “Reducing Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Confusion and Fatigue.” Check out there website here.
https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/blog/100-reasons-to-spend-1000hoursoutside
I have no affiliation with this challenge other than a parent who loves to try and participate.
In 2024 we will leave the things that no longer serve us behind, if last year was rough for you like it was for me and the new year showed what its capable of doing say “No thank you”. I had a family member get a hard diagnosis this year and it made a lot of us look at our lifestyle and realize that things need to change. I for example have made a second cut to my sugar consumption, I went from totally bad 5 pound bag of sugar in a month for my coffee in 2010 to now having that 5 pound bag last for months. But a quick google of sugar and its effects on the body will tell you how bad it is for us and show the need to cut it out.
Like sugar, we can leave behind stress and anxiety. By learning the tools that will help us regulate our emotions and help us in times of need, I try my hardest to take 5 minutes at work when I’m feeling overwhelmed to breath. I imagine that the breath is gold glitter hitting all the areas that I need it to be, I take my three impowering breaths and feel like I’m renewed. Like charging your cell phone battery, we need to push out all the old stagnant air from our system and replace it with clean, crisp air. Dancing is also a great way to help reduce stress and anxiety, when your at home (or work) and you have a chance throw on your favorite upbeat song and just dance like no one is watching. We have dance parties in my house every night with all the songs that get us moving like “Two Princes” by Spin Doctors and “Doki Doki Morning” by Baby Metal and “Better Place” by N*SYNC. Dancing is a chaotic release and it just makes us feel good, its also a natural pain reducer.
In 2024 you should do the things that make you happy. If you have been watching the crochet videos or the painting videos and would love to try it out, do it. Go to the thrift store and get some thread and paint (we know they have them) and just do what feels right. There are kits that help you learn to crochet and even classes that happen at libraries (mine has classes on Thursday nights I’d love to go to0) that are free or low cost. If gardening is you’re passion, start that garden this year, again my library gives out free seeds and the librarians love to see the pictures of your progress. There are also free classes that some host to learn about the process of starting and maintaining not just at libraries but at community gardens, the best part is they are tailored to your area and planting zone. I also have a small video series (that’s growing, lol pun intended) on my YouTube channel linked below.
I know this has been a long post but the point is that 2024 holds possibilities, 2023 may have broken a lot of us. But this year we have new possibilities everyday, you have that choice to take that walk, you have that choice to do the meal prep for your cost saving and overall health, you have that choice to do the things your passionate about. If this post spoke to you and your ready to take a leap and work with a Health Coach on any of these goals (and more) click the link at the top of the page that says Work With Mercedes and together we can find your healthy goals and make them a reality.
I am so grateful for you being here and I will see you in the next post.
Many Blessings,
Mercedes. Holistic Health and Wellness Coach, Nutrition Coach.
