Healthy New Year to you! Yes, it’s that time of year once again, when health and wellness resolutions for the new year are reflected upon, and found everywhere. Please share the following with your employees to help them get off on the right tract with their wellness goals this year. It’s also a good time to remind employees of all the resources and support that your company’s wellness program provides.
If you are making any wellness goals for 2020, there’s a good chance that they fall into one of the following categories:
- Lose weight
- Eat healthier
- Exercise more
- Quit drinking
- Quit smoking
- Reduce stress
- Learn something new
- Get out of debt
- Have more family time
- Enjoy life more
- Help others
- Get organized
Instead of jumping right in and trying to change a horde of habits, take some time to first reflect and make a plan that will help set you up for success:
Identify your core values.
Make a list of your core values—such as vitality, health, honesty, compassion, security—to get a sense of what is really important to you.
Set your priorities.
Target 3 or 4 of those values to focus on. Base your decision on values that you know would make you happier and improve your quality of life. Then look at what you are doing or not doing that is keeping that value from manifesting in your life.
Establish specific, measurable goals that you can act on and track daily.
After you determine the changes you want to make, set specific, measurable goals to track your progress. One of the reasons that many people fail with resolutions is that their goals are too vague.
Be realistic.
Gradually reduce your unhealthy habits so that you can learn behaviors that will last. Go for ridiculously easy ones, so you can begin with success, and build from there.
Be creative.
Who says resolutions should always be about weight loss or exercise? Getting plenty of sleep can also promote better health and vitality. Or walk around the office if you sit all day. Pledge to stand up once an hour or when you take a phone call.
Chill out more.
Stress is the enemy to feeling better and being more productive. Look for stress management programs that provide the tips and support to manage those life situations that may anger, sadden or worry you and help to keep you on goal.
Do something for someone else.
Often, when we are active and engaged in helping others in our community, we are also often more productive and healthier than those who do not. If you have a special cause that is very important to you, make the effort to spend a few hours a month volunteering or helping in some way.