Easy New Year’s Resolutions for a Happier 2020

Shifting your phone screen to night mode to reduce the blue light is a start, but having the equivalent to a headlight beaming in your eyes right before bed does not help your body’s natural signals for the sleep cycle. Not to mention, you could be reading things that could add stress to your mind right before it’s time to shut down. We know it’s easier said than done in these busy lives of ours, but try cutting off small screens at least an hour before you want to go to bed. Spend this time talking to your family, playing with your dog, reading a book or having some quiet “me” time. The hour you feel like you “lose” in productivity will equate to a more productive tomorrow with a better night’s sleep, more balanced mind and better emotional state.

Somewhere in your 30s your skin starts really showing your state of wellness. And, it only gets worse from there. Suddenly you can’t hide the tiredness so well or the dehydration of air travel is clear and present in your T Zone. Find a day that works well and treat yo self to a weekly home spa treatment. Truly do it right. Put away your phone. Put on a spa playlist on Spotify, start with an exfoliating serum, then do a purifying mask and finally a hydrating sheet mask. Lay down for each stage and close your eyes and listen to the spa music. Your skin and overall mood will thank you for it.

How many of us are guilty of eating a sandwich in our left hand while we type with our right hand? Scarfing down a granola bar in the car. Or, eating dinner in front of a screen, possibly while standing at the kitchen counter. Do you even remember what you ate? What it tasted like? Do you still feel hungry? You probably do because your mind didn’t really register that “meal.” Nutritionists often tell us to try to practice what is called “mindful eating.” Sit down. Put away as many distractions as you can. Chew your food slowly and be aware of what you’re eating. Have a proper meal. Eating this way and focusing on your food, what it tastes like and savoring your meal slowly leads to making better food choices over time and eating the proper proportions of food.

Take out your Notes app on your phone or get a traditional notebook and pen. Write down 3 things you are thankful for in your life. They can be very simple and very small. In fact, it’s good if you are able to recognize the small things in your life you can be grateful for. The whole thing takes less than 5 minutes. Do this consistently every morning, night (or both). Studies have shown that after 90 days of this, you shift to a more positive outlook and a mindset of gratitude by consistently reminding yourself what you have to be thankful for.

Have you found yourself keeping up with your friendships via text message or Facebook comments? Life is so busy for all of us, it’s nice to be able to touch base quickly like that, but make it a point once a month to invite a friend to hang for dinner, a drink, a cup of coffee or a buddy workout. The face to face time really does make an impact on your sense of human connectedness.