At this point in the very New Year, many of us have fallen off the wagon with our New Year’s resolutions. It’s around this time that many ambitious resolution-ers start to lose sight of their original goals. I’ve put together a plan to prepare, stay motivated, rejuvenate, and accomplish my New Year’s goals even if my resolutions have already started wavering. Here are my tips for getting back on track toward a healthy life for your body, mind, and spirit.

 

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who vowed on January 1st to lose weight in the New Year, you may have already hit a wall with your progress. In order to keep the momentum going and your enthusiasm high, you may want to consider trying a long-term cleanse as part of your journey towards a healthy life. While I am not an advocate of juice cleanses and other fads that have become popular, Dr. Alejandro Junger has created a 21 day detox cleanse called the Clean Program. Many people have food allergies and sensitivities they’re not even aware of and the Clean Program removes these common allergens so that your body can cleanse and heal. It’s a great tool that will allow you to understand your body on a deeper level and become aware of triggers that could be wearing down your system. Weight loss, believe it or not, is just an added bonus to all of the other benefits that you will likely experience while on this cleanse. Participants report increased energy, improved sleep, and clearer skin and eyes. All of these elements will help you live a healthy life!

Whether your resolution was to lose weight or become more physically fit, there are many new and exciting tools in the fitness world that can help re-start your motivation. One item at the top of my list to buy is an X-Box One. X-Box has teamed up with some major players in the fitness world such as Tracy Anderson and Jillian Michaels. It’s the first technology of its kind that is truly interactive - it’s almost like having these personal trainers in your home with you. Tracy Anderson says she is able to correct your form to execute her moves with precision and design the ‘body of your dreams.’ If you’re having trouble getting yourself up and to the gym especially in these cold and dreary winter months, this is a great solution. I have found that when I work out in the morning before work, I am much more inclined to keep to a schedule. Having the tools at home that allow you to work out in the morning without having to spend time getting to the gym is a total game changer in sticking with your fitness goals. Who would have thought a system widely used for video games could be the very thing that could help you achieve a healthy life in 2014?

My beauty resolution for 2014 was to stop picking at my face! Crazy as that may sound, many of us are guilty of picking and are unable to resist the temptation to squeeze the occasional blemish. The hope is that it will clear up more quickly, but the result is often the opposite. To help me stay on track with this resolution, I am enlisting the help of a new device that could permanently change my beauty regimen. It’s called the Spa Sonic Dermalight and it’s sold on Target.com or at your local Target store. It’s a collagen-boosting, acne-fighting, dark-spot-removing dream tool that addresses every skin woe that I have ever had. Part of living a healthy life for me is a life with clear skin that doesn’t require the use of any harsh chemicals. Instyle.com just featured this product as a winter skincare must-have, and I can’t wait to see if it’s a must have for me!

Another one of my resolutions is to read more books. As a former teacher, I love this resolution because I think educating yourself is the best form of self-improvement, and it should be at the top of all of our lists when trying to achieve a healthy life. In my opinion, the best and only way to read more books is to have a collection of recommended books you know you will enjoy at the ready, be it on your iPad, Kindle, or the in the form of the old-fashioned paperback. Here is my list of must-reads to keep your resolutions going and help you to develop a positive mind-set:

 

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

This is a heartbreaking love story that somehow manages to remind you to be grateful for all of the little things in life. You will find yourself rooting for this unlikely pair who each find themselves living under circumstances that they never imagined or planned for.

 

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

As someone who has known brilliant yet socially challenged people, I found the main character in this book extremely endearing. This is another instance of a seemingly mismatched couple who wind up helping each other in ways that they were not able to help themselves…and finding love along the way.

 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This is a love story that rivals the classic Romeo and Juliette in a surprising and unexpected way. You will experience a full range of emotions as these teens journey through love and heartache while literally fighting the battle of their lives: cancer.

Part of achieving a healthy life this year is making an effort to be more Zen. My fiancée and I have decided to start meditating to try to relieve stress and anxiety. With a wedding on the way, our lives have certainly seen less stressful days! Being totally new to the meditation game, we needed something that would be beginner friendly. A friend recommended headspace.com as a starting place for people who want to get their feet wet, or even just dip a toe into meditation. On headspace.com, you sign up for a free 10-day program, which includes a 10-minute video for each day to walk you through the meditation process. If you make it a priority, it is such a worthwhile activity and something we look forward to at the end of the day. The videos are cute and comprehensive and Andy, the host, is so pleasant to listen to. Meditation has been shown to relieve stress, anxiety and addiction as well as improve sleep, focus and even your immune system. I can’t think of a more all-encompassing tool to help you achieve a healthy life!

 

Maybe you made the same resolutions as I did, or maybe yours are different. Maybe you haven’t made any resolutions at all. The good news is that there is no rule saying you can only make resolutions in January! Assess your progress, or lack thereof, and figure out a plan for going forward - it can be a short-term plan if an entire year of doing something seems difficult to commit to. You retain the right to change your resolutions anytime throughout the year! Outside of January, we usually just call it setting goals, and that is always a good thing to do to help you create a healthy life.