MAKING HEALTH A PRIORITY

View Original

How to Handle the "Ends"

How we handle the ends (end of the day, end of the week, end of the year) has a lot to do with how successful our new beginnings will be. 

The ends are often a time of "falling off." It's common to eat well during the day but overdo it in the evening. Or do healthy activities all week, but blow it on the weekend. Or develop good routines throughout the year, but fall off the wagon in December.

Two Ways to Look at It

There are two ways we can look at the "ends":

  1. A time of lost control and over-indulgence.

  2. A time of planning and preparation.

For example, you can spend your evening eating/drinking too much and  staying up late to watch TV or scroll social media... or you can use that time to prepare your meals and/or clothes for the next day, and to get yourself to bed early.

You can spend your weekend undoing all the healthy stuff you did during the week... or you can treat the free time as an opportunity to do a longer workout and food-prep for the week ahead.

You can spend December as a month of last suppers... or you can treat it as a preseason. A practice round for the new year. A head start. An opportunity to work out the kinks and set yourself up for success in the new year.

Fresh Starts & Head Starts

Everyone loves a fresh start. It’s hopeful and fun to fantasize about the “new you” that will begin on a particular day, such as on January 1st or on Monday.

Fresh starts are great, but why not also give yourself a head start? After all, the new you will need to show up differently than the current you, and that might take some practice.

By treating the “ends” as a preseason, or a practice round, you will be well-prepared, ready to hit the ground running when your fresh start comes around.

Pin It! Follow mHp on Pinterest!

How About You?

How are the "ends" in your life? Are these times holding you back, or giving you a head start? I'd love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below!

If you like tips/tricks to make healthy living simple and enjoyable, then I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter. This is where I share new posts and exclusive content!

This post was originally published on 12/22/20.

See this content in the original post