The new year brings with it the promise of a fresh start, the chance to try something new, or reinvent yourself. But how many times have you made resolutions that fall flat once you’re barely out of January? This year, consider a new approach. Keep it simple and focus on just three areas of your life: body, mind, and heart.
While this list is small, the impact of these three areas can be massive. Read on to see how you can focus on all three in 2022. With this core focus, you’re sure to have a more successful year and more successful you.
1. Physical Health
Most New Year’s resolutions incite aspirations to return to our younger bodies and their metabolisms. While prioritizing health and wellness is a valuable target, focusing on numbers on the scale and calorie counting can be counterproductive. Instead, start with sleep. Aim to get at least seven hours of sleep each night — the recommendation by the CDC for most adults.
Enhance your sleep setting with layered lighting, silk sheets, and silk pajamas for an optimized rest experience. Natural silk is breathable and doesn’t bunch, which can help promote more restful sleep. It’s also washable, making it easier to add to both your wardrobe and linen closet.
Once you’ve improved your sleep habits, focus on nourishing your body. Challenge yourself to explore new recipes and cuisines that use interesting vegetables and fruits. Keeping your diet varied can encourage you to try new things. When you make food fun, integrating healthier food choices is less of a chore. No matter what dietary adjustments you make, they need to be sustainable.
Stay away from crash diets or fads that eliminate certain food categories. After all, what’s a life without salty cheese and dark chocolate? Integrate a variety of foods for an 80/20 split between healthy choices and happiness-inducing indulgences. With a balanced approach, you stand a better chance of being successful.
When it comes to exercise, plan to move your body every day. Keep movement as your goal, and you’re likely to follow through. Movement can mean a simple walk around the neighborhood, regular yard work or chores, or a challenging Pilates routine. Make time for physical activity every day and your body will thank you.
2. Mental Health
Your mind and body work in tandem, so keep your head in the game. After all, your brain affects your thoughts, your creativity, and how you choose to act. So be sure to prioritize taking care of your mental health. One way you can do that is by carving out some time to journal. Nothing is off-limits here.
If you typically aren’t the journaling type, draft a note on your phone with voice-to-text and let it all out. Document how you’ve been feeling, what’s been bothering you, and what you’re excited about. There’s no need for organization or logic here. The end goal is just to express yourself.
Once you’ve done this exercise, set it aside for a few days and let it simmer. Taking a mental break from this potentially overwhelming activity is necessary. Once you’ve had time away from your thoughts, review and organize them into categories. A bigger list in any category can indicate an area you need to focus on.
If you’ve written about dissatisfaction with your job, a deep dive into your career aspirations may be worthwhile. Likewise, if most of your summary is about relationships, you may need to put in some work there. You can prioritize spending time with close friends in 2022. It may be time to seek therapy for yourself or you and your partner. What’s most important here is to first align your mind before you make major life changes.
A good approach for anyone is to add a daily mindfulness practice to your morning routine. Spend some quiet time in thought with yourself before you begin the day. This practice can add much-needed mental clarity no matter how busy your life gets.
3. Spiritual Health
Everything that’s important to you lies within your heart: your relationships and your passions. This year, pay attention to what moves you.
The pandemic has called attention to the importance of time. How we spend that time on things we enjoy and with those we hold dear matters. Consider how you’d like to improve your friendships, family dynamics, and romantic pursuits. Depending on your life situation and stage, this may mean different things.
No matter what, unpack how you feel and identify where you’d like to improve in 2022. If you’ve been yearning for a romantic relationship, consider your current approach to dating. Is it time to try something new? If you’ve been focused on online dating, change it up. Put yourself out there and strike up a conversation with someone you meet at a concert.
Or if you’ve been focused on meeting people in person, it might be time to switch things up and try online dating and can open up a whole new pool of potential matches that you may not have met otherwise. Just remember to stay safe by being cautious about sharing personal information and choose a reputable platform by reading reviews like Feeld or Ashley Madison dating app review for a safer experience.
Is your group text with your best friends littered with suggestions of meetups that never happen? Now may be the time to book an Airbnb for a weekend getaway. Sometimes all it takes is pulling the trigger once you land on an agreeable date.
Just as it’s important to pay attention to your relationships, it’s important to prioritize your creative pursuits. Pay attention to the activities that make you lose track of time. It may be writing, painting, or building something in your workshop. Even if what brings you joy is not a money-making activity, that doesn’t mean it’s not valuable. Devote time regularly to your creative endeavors in 2022 and beyond.
Make 2022 Your Best Year Yet
The clean slate a new year offers is a wonderful opportunity to realign your life. Focusing on matters of the body, mind, and heart can streamline your efforts. What’s even more important is your execution and consistency throughout all 12 months of the coming year.
Once you’ve identified what you want to work on, review your progress weekly. Much like you would review your household budget or calendar, check in with your obligations to yourself. After all, the ship doesn’t sail without the captain at the helm. You’re the captain of your life, and it’s up to you to set the course for 2022.
