December 20th, 2018 by Chris Chapman

For many people, the New Year is like a clean slate. It’s the perfect opportunity for making those big changes that you’ve been thinking about but haven’t gotten around to just yet. While you can make changes to your life at any time, the fresh start offered by the New Year means you’ve got an extra bit of motivation to stick to your resolution. Whether it’s a big change or a small idea, we can all do a bit extra to improve next year – read on for a few of the best New Year’s resolution ideas and how you can stick to them!

Losing Weight

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions people have is to lose weight. If you’re simply looking to lose weight without building muscle (more on that later), you don’t need fancy gym memberships or personal trainers! As the saying goes, you lose weight in the kitchen! Changing your diet is the best way to lose weight, but it’s easier said than done! Try and keep a schedule of your meals to help you get into a healthier routine and cut down on snacks and processed food wherever you can. It sounds like an unnecessary pain, but if you always know what you’re eating and when If you’re bothered by hunger pangs between meals, make sure you have some fruit or a healthy shake to hand to stave off those cravings without resorting to junk food. Combine your healthy diet with some regular walking or jogging trips and some regular exercise at home and you’ll soon notice a difference. It’s important to remember that losing weight is a gradual process and you won’t see the results from it right away. You may not even notice that you’re losing weight at first, which is why many people find it hard to stick to a weight loss routine. It is worth it in the end though, and after a few months, you’ll feel better than ever!

Get in Shape

If you don’t need to lose any weight, you might want to work on building and toning your muscles and getting in better shape so you can push yourself a bit more. Gentle exercise and a balanced diet are good for losing weight, but if you’re looking to build strength, the most affordable and practical way to do this is to join a gym. One thing that often puts people off going to the gym is how busy and hectic they can get in January. Gyms aren’t like that all year round, but it can put you off the idea as soon as you go! Try and go at off-peak times in January if you want to avoid the crowds and, if you stick with it, you’ll notice it starts to get less busy as the year progresses. You can also pick up some weights or resistance bands for you to do some lighter exercises at home, as well as an ab toning belt to tone up your stomach even when you’re not exercising. Ab toning belts send weak electrical currents through your abdominal muscles, which will help tone them up alongside a healthy diet and exercise regime. As with weight loss, building and toning muscle is a gradual process that you won’t notice working for a few months, but by the summertime you’ll really start to reap the rewards from all your hard work!

Tidy Up Your Home

Not all New Year’s resolutions have to be long-term things. You can have some short-term goals that’ll help you live a more comfortable life, too! Tidying up your home is a very common New Year’s resolution as many people can combine it with their post-Christmas clear-up or a spring clean. You can use the new year as an opportunity to clear out the clutter from your home. De-cluttering your living room and bedroom will help your home feel lighter and airier, making it a more inviting place to be. Getting rid of all that clutter also makes it easier to clean your carpets, upholstery, and kitchen surfaces, so it’s definitely worth doing! A New Year’s clean might not be the most glamorous New Year’s resolution, but with the help of some quality carpet shampoo and mildew remover, it doesn’t have to be a pain, either! Once your home is bright, fresh, and clean, you’ll find it much easier to relax, so this is one resolution that it’s worth sticking to!

Be More Organised

The good thing about tidying, losing weight, or getting into the gym, is that these things make it much easier to get into a routine! While you don’t want to get into the habit of doing the exact same things every day, a bit of routine adds some structure to your life and helps make your goals feel more attainable. Try to get up at roughly the same time every day and go to bed at the same time every night, even on a weekend, to help your sleep schedule. This will help you get a better sleep while also ensuring you’ve got lots of time in the day to get stuff done! Use apps and calendars to manage your time well in the day and try and keep your home or workplace tidy – this will help you stay focused and organised.