My personal goals this year have a strong focus on building healthy habits. To be honest, this has been a struggle over the past few years. With work and kids, I’m often putting myself last — especially when it comes to my health.
While I’m talking a long-term approach to building these healthy habits with help from my friends Kristi Carlson and Kate Hammer, I wanted to start the year strong. So I tried something with two things that needed a change — alcohol and exercise.
To kick start change, I took action (or a lack there of) every day. By telling myself it would be every day, it took away the decision making and made it harder to make excuses for myself.
Exercising with Peloton
One the first of the year, I joined Peloton’s Winter Launch Challenge to take one class every day in January. I was already working out using Peloton, but it was sporadic. Some week’s I worked out often, some weeks very little or not at all. I really wanted to create more consistent healthy habits to move, especially since I sit at my computer so many hours a day.
It wasn’t about doing super intense workouts every day. Some times I just did a 10 or 15 minute strength class, but it helped me to know I had to do something each day, even if was just something small. Now I look forward to picking out a class and moving my body a little each day.
Dry January
Similar to the Peloton challenge, Dry January was a challenge to not drink all month. This was a tough challenge for me and Chris, especially during a pandemic when my kids barely go to school!
At first not drinking was really tough, especially on the weekends. But as the weeks passed, it got a lot easier. Now, it helps me start fresh with healthy drinking habits. The plan is to only drink on the weekends moving forward.
I’m excited I’ve started the year strong with these two things, but certainly still have a lot of work to do to keep it up and continue with some other healthy habits I’m working on.
How are you working on yourself this year?
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