Hit that reset button – It’s January 2022, so resolutions start now!
Despite it being a weird start to the year, again, it doesn’t mean that all those good intentions have to fly out the window, and here’s why…
For a start, you made your resolutions because you want to make some positive changes in your life and New Year’s provided the perfect opportunity for it, right?
That hasn’t changed.
It is still a new year, it is still the perfect time for a fresh start, and, no matter what else is happening in your life, practising some good new habits still matters. It probably matters more than anything for most of us, especially now, and especially when it comes to your physical and mental well-being.
Secondly, now is the perfect time for a personal project.
Why? Because we all want to feel better. About life, about the future, about ourselves. We’re guessing putting those goals off doesn’t really make much sense when you think about it like that.
So, what exactly were your resolutions?
For many, they likely included some (if not all) of the following:
- Losing weight
- Getting fitter
- Cutting down or giving up smoking
- Over-indulging in bad foods and too much alcohol
- Improving your finances
- Improving your job situation
- Planning and saving up for a holiday / car / house improvement
- Improving your mental health, e.g. worrying less, doing more positive, fun things
- Taking time out and relaxing more / sleeping better
- Spending more time with people you care about
Looking at this list, you’re probably realising that so many things on it actually feed off the others. Take that first one, losing weight.
Weight loss hits the top of the New Year’s resolution list for many, many people and for good reason. It is estimated nearly half the population in many western countries are bordering on or have obesity and it’s on the rise. Covid-19 didn’t help.
According to the latest stats, 35% of Aussies and 42% of Americans  have gained weight during lockdown, with the average gain in the US tipping the scales at 13 kilos.
That’s pretty stressful for most, and likely has an impact of everything else on that list, especially if losing weight was your goal the year before that. And the year before that. And so on.
But here’s the good news: starting your weight loss journey now means that you can stop the scales going up and reverse this trend in your life, maybe for good. 2022 can be the year that changed everything for the better, not just your size.
Wouldn’t it feel great next New Year’s Eve to say this was the year that counted? This was the year you turned things around and made your life as good as it could be? If so…
It simply comes down to one thing: starting your resolutions…now – and starting with weight loss.
By losing weight, you’ll also be helping yourself to achieve all other nine goals on that list. Seriously, consider this. Weight loss can:
- Help you feel fitter and make your more likely to enjoy being active
- Feel so good that you’re motivated to cut down or giving up smoking
- Develop healthy habits that stop you over-indulging in bad foods and too much alcohol
- Increase your confidence and motivation in general, helping you to improve your finances and your job situation
- Set even more exciting goals, like planning and saving up for a holiday / car / house improvement
- Undoubtedly improve your mental health, e.g. worrying less, doing more positive, fun things as you travel through life in a lighter, healthier body that you feel great about
- Find it easier to relax and sleep due to improved physical and mental health
- Want to socialize and spend more time with people you care about
So, making the most out of January and starting those New Years resolutions now is actually the perfect way to start 2022, and end this year on a high.
It really could just come down to starting that weight loss journey and kickstarting your results.
There’s only one question left that you need to ask yourself: what diet should I actually do?
The answer is surprisingly simple: do the easiest one to stick to.
If you’re thinking that you’ve never found diet that’s easy to stick to, it may be time to try something different and the word on everyone’s lips is intermittent fasting, for good reason. Intermittent fasting or ‘part-time dieting’ means only fasting for some hours of the day or reducing your calories on only some days of the week (two or three days being the popular choices). The rest of the time you eat normally which means that you constantly have a break from being on an actual ‘diet’.
Looking at that list, there’s 10 very good reasons why you might want to start your weight loss resolution now and, with intermittent fasting, it may be far easier than you think.
That’s part-time food for thought.