My 7 Resolutions for Body, Mind and Soul

Resolutions for Body, Mind and Soul

Now I know we really can change at any age I’m excited about the year ahead and ready to introduce more positive changes into my life. I’m so confident I can do it that I’m ready to share my plans with you.

Part of me is terrified by this because despite my best intentions, who knows how the year will pan out and what life will throw my way. But despite that I’m ready to commit and give it a go. I’m ready for a new adventure and mentally prepared to take on a challenge.

I’ve divided them up between body, mind and soul to keep things in balance.

Body 

1. Quit chocolate and replace it with 15 minutes of meditation after lunch and a ten minute nap

I’ve got to quit chocolate because I don’t have an off button. Last year I literally ate my body weight in chocolate (don’t judge me, I was depressed) but I’ve put on weight and I don’t want to carry on getting heavier because then I’d have to buy loads of new clothes (see no.4).

I’ve been an emotional eater my whole life though I’m blessed with a fast metabolism and I’m tall so I’m not over weight , although I soon could be if I carry on guzzling so much chocolate.

So I’m ready to address the problem and take control of my eating. My aim is to stop eating chocolate and sugar completely for  a while, stop eating processed food forever and eat more of the healthy food I love to eat instead of just the quick, easy meals I cook for the family to keep the kids happy.

Once things are back in control I’d love to eat chocolate on special occasions or when travelling but not every day.

2. Maintain my fitness levels

My exercise schedule includes regular walks (most days), along with weekly bike rides, killer steps sessions, exercise DVDs and possibly a dance class or yoga session too.

Although exercise alone didn’t make me any less depressed it keeps me off the streets, gets me outside in nature (which is essential for my mental health)and sometimes it helps me spend time with other people too.

I look forward to my beach walks so I need to make sure I keep getting up early to fit them in before anything else.

Mind

3. Meditate every day and continue to incorporate mindfulness into daily life

Last year I finally find out how to learn to meditate and got in the habit of regular meditation. This year I want to make sure I meditate daily and continue practicing mindfulness both to live more in the present which makes me happier and to break old patterns, like shouting at the children when I’m stressed or tired at the end of the day, and procrastinating on social media when I should be working.

In addition I plan to continue to work on myself and get support as I grow and commit to meditation and mindfulness with private therapy sessions and group therapy having found a therapist who’s a good match for me.

4. Don’t buy any new clothes this year

Having too much stuff gets me down so I’m planning to reduce the problem at its source by buying less. If I can declutter the house in any spare moment and if I end up spending less over the year by not buying any new clothes that will be a bonus.

I have a wardrobe full of lovely clothes so I just need to wear those and resist buying any new clothes or shoes which will be hard even though I don’t need anything. I will buy get new undies if needed because there is a proven link between wearing saggy, stained, shameful underwear and having low self esteem.

Soul

6. Make sure I catch up with a friend at least once a week

I’d love to see my friends every day and I should aim for seeing them twice a week but sometimes I can go for a month or more without seeing a friend, mainly because I get immersed in work and kid stuff and all my friends are as busy as me. So I need to organise coffee or movie dates in advance or find a friend who I can walk or bike with every week to help me stop feeling lonely too often.

7. Make time to enjoy my family 

Sometimes it feels like we’re room mates or worse that I’m a hotelier and my kids are the guests. So I’d like to make sure I actually enjoy fun activities with my family at least once a week as opposed to just living with them and managing their food intake, social life and laundry.

I’d like to spend some time alone with Rich every week, either to go out for a juice bar, a walk or a movie and I’d like to play with the kids once a week, preferably physical activities I enjoy like biking, slacklining or boogey boarding although card and board games or baking are good options. This will be hard as I have three kids and they all need one on one time although Luke (aged 15) is too cool to hang out with me now I’d still like to try to spend sometime alone with him. Maybe I’ll try to rotate it and enjoy one kid each week if that makes sense.

7. Complete a book

Every year I plan to write a book then I don’t finish it. So this year I’m going to make it easier by turning the 52 Exercises into a book and starting with that.

I’m a terrible perfectionist but I need to complete more things rather than just coming up with new ideas that I can’t follow through on.

In 2014 I need to focus on completion and just get the book finished and on sale (as an ebook) so I can move onto other books and keep producing finished products rather than sitting on a stack of half-finished pieces of work.

That’s it! Chris Brogan chooses three words at the beginning of each year to keep him on track so I thought I’d do the same and allocate one to each element I’m working on.

So my word for Body is Play (and rush less), my word for Mind is Be and my word for the Soul is Complete. It all comes together to make ‘Play be complete’ which is a pretty good phrase to keep me on track with everything.

I’ll keep you updated on my progress (or not!) with these new year’s resolutions here so please subscribe now so you don’t miss out.  That way you’ll get free weekly email updates with unique content you won’t find on the blog including tips to help you be more adventurous, have more fun and feel fabulous and links to the best stories.

What are your plans for the year ahead? Are you considering your body, mind and soul as you plan the year ahead and make your resolutions or is something missing? 

resolutions for body mind and soul

Want to be more adventurous, have more fun and feel fabulous? Sign up here now for our free weekly newsletter – it’s chockablok with hot content which you can only get in the newsletter as well as links to the best posts

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

8 Comments

  1. Sandra Pawula January 13, 2014 at 8:29 am - Reply

    Dear Annabel,

    These are wonderful and they even feel like fun (except for the exercise). I’m like you, I don’t have a turn off switch when it comes to chocolate, cookies, and things like that. But I do pretty well. I love your aspiration to see a friend every week.

    I wish you the very best in accomplishing your aspirations! I’m so happy to see you excited about the new year. Happy New Year!

    • Annabel Candy January 13, 2014 at 9:54 am - Reply

      Hi Sandra,

      I love the word aspirations :) I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s missing the sugar overload cut out!

  2. Desolie January 13, 2014 at 11:33 am - Reply

    Hello Annabel

    Thank you for sharing your journey. I can relate in so many ways, and am now (at long last – lol) learning mindfulness, acceptance of my past (without beating myself up), and being ‘me’.

    It’s helpful to talk to people who understand the challenges of depression and recovery, even though each person’s journey is unique. I’m also struggling with some sleep issues, and am finding it rather hard to find people who understand those challenges. But I know there’s a solution.

    I look forward to hearing about your adventures this year – and hoping to actually meet one day.

    Desolie

    • Annabel Candy January 13, 2014 at 11:46 am - Reply

      Hi Desolie,

      I’d love to meet you too – maybe this year will be the year :)

      Sorry to hear that you’re brushed with depression too although I think it’s perfectly normal. Sleeplessness is horrid and the mind plays terrible games when we are awake, alone in the middle of the night.

      Last year I started to use sleepless nights as a great opportunity to practice mindfulness and concentrate on my breathing rather than get sucked into a non stop conveyor best of thoughts, worries and worse. It takes practice (of course) but mindfulness and just being in that moment, feeling happy to be in a comfy bed and breathing, definitely helps me get back to sleep faster. I hope it helps you too.

  3. Brad January 13, 2014 at 11:35 am - Reply

    Sounds like your year had many similarities to mine Annabel. It’s great to document your thoughts and put it into a concise action plan like you have here, plus to put it out there publicly helps to commit to it. I’m not quite at that stage yet but am working on it so thanks for the inspiration and here’s to a great year full of promise and adventures.

    • Annabel Candy January 13, 2014 at 11:51 am - Reply

      Hi Brad,

      Well I look forward to hearing your plans when you’re ready and love the sound of promise and adventure :)

  4. Linda ~ Journey Jottings January 14, 2014 at 1:54 am - Reply

    I love the focus of your 7 Resolutions for Body, Mind and Soul – because they’re so aligned with mine for 2014!
    Except mine have all ended up with numbers in them ;)
    Body is 5/2 as I’m trying the Fast diet where 2 days a week I have no sugar – not even fruit – Vegetables only!
    Fitness is 4/7 as I get back into a walk, cycle, kayak & Pilates each week.
    Mind is 1/1 to drawstring together my scatterbrain into single-mindedness.
    De-cluttering is 10/10 – Remove 10 things each session, however small eg 10 elastic bands – or 10 pieces of paper – so slowly but surely the decks get cleared minus the overwhelm of the task.
    I wish we lived nearer so we could have a 2/2 get together as I’m as guilty as you of spending far too much time immersed in just my own head-space!
    4/4 for fun times with family and partner away from daily drudgery
    And a High 5 for accomplishing our “important” work – Not just the myriad of busy urgent non-thinking rubbish!
    Here’s to our enriching year ahead :)

    • Annabel Candy January 14, 2014 at 1:20 pm - Reply

      Hi Linda,

      I’ve heard so much about 5/2 I want to try it too. But first thing first for me :)

      Love the way you’ve got it all down with numbers. Very clever. I’d love a weekly walk with you – such a shame we live too far apart for that but next time you come to visit (or I come to see you) we’ll definitely hit the road – or the beach :)

      That all sounds organised doable and fun too. I think it’s going to be a good one!

Leave A Comment