2017 is here! Time for a fresh start, a clean slate and opportunities to create new habits for a happier (and healthier) year. Setting new year’s resolutions can be overwhelming and sometimes, we take on too many, or too big of goals, that become too much to manage once we get into it. So we have come up with 5 simple new year’s resolutions that will help to create a happier home in 2017.
1. Start small and make your bed each morning
Sounds a little bit silly but making your bed each morning is a simple way to limit stress in the home. Wake up, and as soon as you’re out of bed, make it. Making your bed each morning is a great way to establish a pattern of healthy habits.
Swiped from the book The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg: “making your bed every morning is correlated with better productivity, a greater sense of well-being, and stronger skills at sticking with a budget.”
Huffington Post further explains: Making your bed is what he calls a “keystone habit,” something that kick starts a pattern of other good behavior. And since it happens at the very beginning of the day, you’re apt to make better decisions for the remainder of the day thanks to your bed-making routine (exercise is another good example of this concept).
2. Put your phone down.
Studies have shown that people are spending more and more time on their electronic devices and are distracted throughout the day from completing tasks and engaging with others. When you come home from work, talk to your roommate, husband, wife or kids without looking at your phone.
Give people undivided attention and you’ll both feel more connected and will actually enjoy talking with one another. This is also a great habit to practice while you’re at work.
3. Wash the dishes.
After a long day, cooking can be stressful and doing the dishes once the meal is done can be a pain the butt. As tempting as it is to leave the dishes for tomorrow – take a few minutes to clean up. Walking into a messy kitchen the first thing in the morning starts your day out with clutter, mess and stress.
4. Put things away.
We’ve all been there. You finish a project or a task and you leave the materials out on the counter or table. You’ll get to it later, right? Or maybe you won’t and soon more messes will start to pop up and soon it will feel too unmanageable.
After completing a project, put everything away. It will only take a few minutes and setting this habit will help eliminate mess and stress in your home.
5. Go for walk.
Let’s face it – life is filled with stress and you need to learn how to deal with stresses that come your way. One of the very best ways to limit stress is to get moving. Studies have shown that: “Just about any form of physical activity can help relieve stress and burn away anger, tension, and frustration. Exercise releases endorphins that boost your mood and make you feel good, and it can also serve as a valuable distraction to your daily worries.”
So grab the kiddos, your spouse, roommates or pooch and go for a walk each day. Take a walk after dinner or practice yoga stretches on your lunch break. Moving will help both your body and your mind.
There you have it! These are 5 new year’s resolutions for a happier home. Each of these habits are simple ways to transform your attitude and mindset. Taking these steps will help to eliminate stress at home and are not too lofty of tasks to complete. Try them out and see how they impact your life.
