Why Wait For New Year? Three Good Habits To Get Into For 2022

This is a collaborative post

The New Year always comes around so quickly. Even though we are currently gearing up for the holidays, we all know that January is lurking just around the corner. When the first day of the new year arrives, most of us have our resolutions ready and we feel like we are raring to go. This is the year we are going to do better, eat healthier, exercise more and generally not fall into all the bad habits of the previous twelve months. All those good intentions are wonderful, but we are sure that we are not alone in finding that we often end up falling short when it comes to our resolutions. 

One of the main reasons for this is that we so often end up making them in a panic. We make them when we are already feeling overwhelmed, overstressed, overtired, overweight, or whatever the situation might be. We do not make any sort of plan for how we are going to action to these big life changes, we just know that we want to make them. Well, if you want to give yourself the best chance of sticking to your new habits, you need to make sure that you prepare ahead of time and create a platform for success. Here are some tips to help you get into better habits.

Find An Exercise Routine That Works For You

Let’s start with one of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions. It is so easy to feel like you are out of shape by the time we reach the end of December. It’s the middle of winter so we are staying inside a lot more and we are doing a lot more comfort eating. It is also the end of the holidays, and how many of us want to watch what we are eating during that period? 

Getting into an exercise routine is always a good idea, but it is not something that you should just try and do overnight. That is how you end up setting unrealistic goals and getting frustrated when you do not achieve them. Start by asking yourself what your fitness goals are. Do you want to lose a certain amount of weight? Is there a run that you would like to be able to do comfortably? Do you just want to be in better shape in general? Then look at how much time you have every day to dedicate to these goals. 

Experts agree that it is important to be realistic, be organised, remember to start small and look for ways to make it fun. See if any of your friends and family members would like to join you on this journey to keep each other motivated when things get tough.

Photo credit Jenny Hill

Start Getting To Grips With Your Finances

There is no panic like money panic, and we all know that feeling of looking at our bank balance when January rolls around and wondering where it all went. But rushing to make quick cuts is a sure-fire way to ensure that you end up right back in the same bad habits. A big part of getting better with your money is understanding where it goes every month. 

Create a monthly budget and make sure that everything is written down. When it is all in front of you, from debt repayments to how much you are spending on meal deals every week, you will be able to make more informed decisions about what you can cut and what is necessary. You should also learn about your responsibilities when you take on a loan. It is so easy for debts to start to pile up, and that is when you can start to lose track of interest rates and repayment dates. Be sure to read the fine print carefully on any loan and never take one out without understanding exactly what you are liable for and knowing that you can manage the repayments. Using a pay day loans comparison site like Payday UK will show you what your options are without any obligation. They process over 4500 loan quotes every day and your application is confidential and secure.

Photo credit Michael Longmire

Start Getting Greener

It is impossible to ignore the climate situation right now, as the world’s leaders gather to work to find a way towards net zero and extreme weather events become more and more routine. It can be difficult to see how you can make an impact as one individual but remember that there are always ways to make a difference. 

Committing to using as little plastic as possible is a huge step. Recycling is obviously crucial, but you should be thinking about your electrical waste as well as your household waste. If you are a meat-eater, you should keep in mind that switching to veggie options is one of the most effective ways of cutting down on your carbon footprint. Use public transport when you can, instead of taking your own car. We all know that the news about global warming can feel overwhelming but taking responsibility for your actions and actively looking for ways to do better can really help.