Inevitably on the 31st of December I spend a lot of time thinking about my New Year's resolutions. I'm tired of setting goals that are unrealistic and that end up making me feel guilty if I don't succeed. So for 2020, I'm trying to come up with a plan to change certain habits that will lead to a healthier and happier me.
The first has to do with exercise. I used to exercise regularly. I was on the cross-country running club and the soccer team in high school, I played soccer at the university, I used to run regularly. I ran the Pittsburgh Great Race with my father four years in a row. I still play tennis but not as much as I'd like to, and I love to ski, I'm no expert, but it's so much fun! I have ridden my bike to Washington, D.C. on the Great Allegheny Passage (a must do!) and used to go to spinning classes twice a week at the gym. Then I started working on my doctorate. All that exercise came to a grinding halt. This isn't good, especially at my age.
I'm determined to get back in shape. It's essential for me both physically and mentally, especially given the stressors of taking care of a son with mental health issues, working full-time as a teacher at the university, writing my dissertation, and taking doctoral classes all at the same time. I know that exercise has always made me feel more energetic and mentally alert, and yet I always have an excuse not to go to the gym. Until I read the article below. I had never heard of "pleasure bundling", but it makes sense to me! Read it and let me know what you think!
Fresh Starts, Guilty Pleasures And Other Pro Tips For Sticking To Good Habits
These series of Podcasts published by National Public Radio (NPR) provide several good tips for transforming your New Year's resolutions into habits:
NPR's Podcast Playlist for Transforming New Year's resolutions into habits
Tell me, do you believe in New Year's resolutions? What are yours?
