Lifestyle

5 Texas Tips for a Happy, Healthy New Year

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Whatever the change that you seek, there are small steps you can take towards big results. And “big” is something we like in Texas! Here are five Texas tips to help make this one of your happiest, healthiest new year’s yet:

1. Lighten Your Load.

5 Texas Tips for a Happier, Healthier New Year

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As opposed to taking more on, you could consider letting go of something from your life that may not be serving a purpose anymore. It could mean clearing the clutter from your closet, right on up to staying away from a toxic friendship. By paradox, taking the focus in your life off something that no longer benefits or helps you, might assist you in starting to focus on things that are more meaningful to you.

2. Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew.

5 Texas Tips for a Happier, Healthier New Year

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Consider making short-term resolutions as opposed to New Year’s resolutions. Pick something you can focus on for a shorter period of the year, taking the stress off of aiming for a large, often insurmountable goal. Rather than beating yourself up when your willpower perhaps fails you on a big-ticket plan, you’ll build confidence by achieving shorter-term goals.

3. When You Throw Dirt, You Lose Ground.

5 Texas Tips for a Happier, Healthier New Year

Photo: Pixabay

Make a conscious effort to make good human connections. Be good to yourself and to others (where possible). Relationships and good mental health have some of the biggest impacts on happiness, and your satisfaction with life will rise for the most part when you focus on positivity, positive affirmations, and release feelings of depression and anxiety in a healthy way.

4. Take the Bull By the Horns.

5 Texas Tips for a Happier, Healthier New Year

Photo: Pixabay

Instead of employing an “all or nothing” attitude, try dropping the feeling of guilt you’ll have if one little component of your life plan isn’t performing the way you thought it should. Focus on positive steps in the right direction rather than “perfect” steps, and perfect aim, remembering that some guilt is healthy if it helps you change for the better and too much guilt over lack of “perfectionism” is just too hard on a body.

5. Get Fixin’ To!

5 Texas Tips for a Happier, Healthier New Year

Photo: LinkedIn

We suspend so many activities these days in favor of being electronically “plugged in.” Perhaps get fixin’ to “unplug” and see what benefits you might achieve. Close down the email, turn off your phone, and remove yourself from social media for a day. This can lead to becoming more mindful and focusing your attentions on yourself, friends, and family. Maybe do a little checklist afterward and see: How was your focus? Did you notice any changes in your feelings or mood? How was your anxiety or stress? Maybe try doing this once or twice a month and see where it leads. And have yourself a happy New Year!