Subtitle: Do More of What Gives You Energy and Less of What Drains it
2021, here we are. Since hindsight is 2020, we can look back at last year through a deep and wide lens to best learn from our mistakes, get rid of the things and people who suck our energy away from us, and do more of what fills us with energy. In doing so, we can set ourselves up for success by moving forward with a clearer vision for our lives...this year and beyond.
We all know it can be difficult to make 'hard cuts' or go 'cold turkey' by quitting this thing or that, so I've made a list of things I intend on doing this year to create good habits for the future...one step and day at a time. Some of these may be obvious, some may be unorthodox, and some may seem downright crazy. But, in order to grow and become a better version of myself, going out of my comfort zone is vital.
In no particular order, here's 6 Resolutions for 2021:
1. Adopting more of a plant based diet.
There is a lot of scientific research as to why this is the best diet for the human body on a long-term basis. For me, it's not just about having a long life-span, but a long health-span. To live more healthier years than not is what I'm after. An easy way to do this is to eat more salad, beans, rice, quinoa, risotto, fruits and vegetables (making delicious smoothies is a fun way to enjoy these last 2 in a different way), and more. Of course, drinking mainly water and non-caffeinated tea is where I would ideally want to be in this realm. A lot of people think it's way too expensive to eat healthy, but it really isn't. Most supermarkets have a Vegan and/or Vegetarian section these days, more restaurants are offering these types of options, and more health food or organic stores are popping up. And, the prices are quite reasonable.
2. Exercise 3 times a day.
Yes, I said it--3 times a day. This might seem crazy, but it doesn't have to be strenuous exercise. It could mean going on a 20-30 minute bike ride or run in the morning and then taking two 30 minute walks throughout the day, preferably somewhere in nature like a trail I've never been on before. I generally do this already, but sticking with it is the key. All that really has to be done is carving out the time in my schedule. What do I do? Block out time on my phone's calendar every day for this. It's simple and gets the job done.
3. Sleep for at least 7 hours a night.
I know, we are supposed to get 8 hours a night. But, that may be asking for too much of a jump from where I am now. Remember, baby steps. In college, as well as a few years after graduating, I used to get 2-4 hours a night and pull all nighters on the regular. I used to wear this 'lack of sleep' idea as a badge of honor. Now, if I get less than 5/5.5 hours, I'm not a happy camper the next day. Every little thing gets under my skin and I feel like I'm not operating at my optimal level. In short, I'm not my best self, and this is not only unfair to me, but to those around me as well. Currently, I'm getting about 6 hours a night on average, so making the transition to 7 doesn't seem like such a leap. All it takes is putting away electronic devices an hour earlier, laying down, dimming the lights, reading a book, or listening to calming music. I can most certainly do that! I've done a lot harder things in life.
4. Limit alcohol consumption to celebratory events only.
Let me get one thing straight--I'm not trying to be the beer police here. I enjoy a nice craft beer as much as the next guy, but I also know myself and the habit I can easily fall into with alcohol. While it may be nice to reward myself with a beer after a long week at work, I used to drink a beer every day after work. So, I've already cut down alcohol consumption to 1/7 the amount it was just a year ago. Why do I want to do this? It's not that I have an addiction to it, because I know I don't. Because alcohol equals empty calories. Alcohol also equals unnecessary sugar, and for someone who experiences anxiety, excess sugar is no good. Plus, alcohol equals a sour stomach and less energy the next day. While it might feel good in the moment to indulge in 'spirits' or take the edge off in a social situation, I tend to pay for it in the long run. Now, it might seem like I'm sucking the fun out of life, but for me it's another example of wanting to operate at an optimal level to be my best self. Being a parent and business owner, I don't enjoy not having the energy to play with my son or run the business to the best of my ability. Therefore, I'm taking a hard stance on limiting alcohol consumption for celebratory events only. By doing so, it gives me a way to still enjoy a nice craft beer to commemorate a special moment and then move on from it to regular every day life. Special moments include: weddings, anniversaries, New Year's Eve, my birthday party, raise/promotion/big deal comes through at work, and retirement. Since many of my family and friends are already married and my birthday party, anniversary, and New Year's Eve only happens once a year, this cuts out a lot of unnecessary drinking. Plus, from now on, it will make each time I raise a glass a truly special thing.
5. Treat myself to something fun and different once a month.
I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like all I do is work, work, and work some more. It's OK to relax, do something besides work in the business sense, and enjoy life on a continual basis. So, I'm resolving to treat myself to something fun and different once a month, and actually giving myself permission to do so. For me, this could mean buying a new musical instrument, going snowboarding/kayaking (depending on the season), seeing a concert or any other type of live entertainment (comedy show, broadway play), going on a day trip with family, going on a date with my wife, going on a vacation/long road trip with family and/or friends. You get the point. The idea is to have something different to look forward to that fills me with energy and excitement. This way, I'm constantly thinking of new and different activities/experiences to make life more of an adventurous journey rather than a series of monotonous responsibilities and chores.
6. Let go of toxic relationships and let in invigorating ones.
I've heard this phrase before: 'Do more of what makes you happy and less of what doesn't.' I'm not sure who said it, but this is certainly true about relationships. This may seem obvious, but it hasn't been for me until very recently. I know so many people who hold on to this relationship or that relationship that just doesn't serve you anymore. Yes, relationships are a give and take, so I'm not saying only maintain friendships that give you something while you don't give anything to them. That would just be selfish. What I am saying is only stay in relationships that fill you with energy. It's that simple.
Let me give some examples:
-Maybe you're the one who's always bending to the other person's wishes, and don't feel like any compromises or sacrifices are being reciprocated. They may be taking you for granted. Get out. They are taking energy away from you that you could be putting towards another relationship or activity that fills you with life.
-Maybe you're tired of gossip or the negative talk about the government, the news, religion, or something else along those lines. Let them go. You don't need the negativity. It's not worth it. All this does is make you feel bad about yourself and the world around you.
-Maybe you're tired of being blamed for things that you have no control over or are not your fault. Misplaced anger and emotions are quite common, and it's not fair to you to always be the proverbial punching bag for someone else. There's only so many times you can 'take a hit' without being down for the count. Cut that person out of your life.
In all of these examples, there's one thing we have to remember: Life is short. Do we really want people in it that suck the energy and joy out of your one life? Or, do we want people in it that give us energy, inspire us, and make us want to be a better person? I'd rather have the latter. So, how can we make this happen? Surround ourselves around positive, like-minded, charismatic people. People who will be there for you not just in times of triumph but in times of trial. We all go through rough patches, so to find someone who will be there when the rubber meets the road, so to speak, and not disappear into the night when we need them most, is a rare and special thing. And, you know what? If you are willing to be that person for them, then you know the relationship is right and life-giving. Where can we find them? As part of a church group, a running club, a co-worker you get to know outside of work on a walk, a friendly neighbor you bump into and start a conversation, at an open mic night. The list can go on and on. They're everywhere around us--we just have to be open to letting them into our lives. When we do let them in, you'll find that your happiness level will most definitely increase and your overall well-being meter will be off the charts for the present moment and many years to come. After all, you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Why not have that be 5 amazing people?
So, there you have it. I hope you find inspiration in any of these, are able to implement one or more into your life, and/or make you think of other ideas not on this list. It's all about thinking outside of the box, and taking the reigns in your life. Be an active participant in it. Not someone watching it from the sidelines. You owe it to yourself to do this, especially after all that happened in 2020. Now, go out and make it happen.
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