Join the Resolution Revolution!
Tired of the same old boring New Year resolutions? Me too. Life's too short, don't you think? The people at Skineez certainly agree. They've agreed to give away a pair of their skin care wear to one lucky commenter. So read on, get inspired, and share your “out of the box” resolution with the rest of us. Ready?
For those of you who haven't heard of Skineez, they are a body shaping and skin care product gaining popularity among even the celebrity crowd. They are available at Macy's and normally retail for about sixty-eight dollars. But you have a chance to try them out free by participating my personal resolution revolution. You need only to post your innovative resolution idea in the comment section below to be entered to win.
What am I looking for?
Basically, resolutions that celebrate life and the pursuit of a higher state of being. Here are a few ideas that are, in my humble opinion, worth considering.
- If you can't remember the last time you got naked in a rainstorm, make it a priority the next time you experience a downpour.
- Dance with your dog at least twice a week.
- Make a commitment to more intimacy with your spouse. If three love-making sessions a week is all the time you are carving out to celebrate the person who's committed their entire life to you, I encourage you to rethink that schedule. If you don't think you have the time, pick a simpler dinner plan and search out some eco-friendly paper plates.
- Have another brownie, put on your big girl panties, and deal with it. Life's too short to eliminate chocolate.
- Try a new type of wine at least once a month.
- Check out the stars more. After all, 2009 is the international year of astronomy.
- Bring more flowers into your life, even if you have to plant or pick them yourself.
- Make a commitment to as many daily meditations as it takes to find that inner voice, and start following the advice it gives you.
How to proceed?
I have to admit, I was just going to recommend taking stock of your life and picking something fun and out of the norm. But Tim Smith over at Smile Therapy did me one better by sharing a questionnaire he uses that's designed to bring the full picture to the forefront, making these issues easier to spot. Here are the highlights:
- How would you rate both your physical and mental health?
- Are your relationships functioning the way you'd like? (spouse, significant other, friends, family)
- How would you rate your work situation and / or your satisfaction with it?
- What about how your finances are sitting? (assets, debts, cash flow)
- Are you progressing with regards to your short and long term goals?
- How much “fun factor” do you have in your life? (What cool things have you done in the past 12 months? Are you living life to the fullest, or just going through the motions?
- Are you progressing spiritually? (For example, do recent actions make you feel your moral compass is accurate? What have you done recently for your fellow man? Do you feel “tuned in” to the universe or are you still waiting for that cosmic connection? )
Remember Wise Bread readers, it's later than you think. Need a little motivation? I recommend the tune “Lock and Load” from Bob Seger's It's a Mystery Album. It'll get you rockin' into the new year with the right attitude. You have my personal guarantee. Happy 2009, everybody!
Simply post a comment for a chance to win a set of Skineez skin care wear. The deadline for comments is January 8th, 9:00 a.m. EST. **CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED*****
Several years ago I made a resolution to never make another resolution. I've kept this one very well. But you see, Dec. 31 is my birthday, so instead I reflect on the past year and then set goals for myself. This year for example, one of my goals is to crochet a scarf each month. The six I made went too fast, so I'm doubling my efforts. I'm not beating myself up for not doubling my savings (missed it by $43). My husband's health problems are alittle worse than we thought so we had more bills, but hey, he is still here and kicking. Each month I check in with my WRITTEN list and see how I'm doing. Be good to yourself. Make some goals that make you happy. Those will be the easiest to stick to.
Hi-
I just read your comment, and I too gave up on "resolutions" as they just made me feel guilty all year, but I do set goals for myself and my family and try to near them. I stay positive when it's just not possible.
I wish you and your family health and happiness in this new year. Do you sell your scarfs? I am always looking for homemade crafts, we just love them.
I love how you picked something you enjoyed doing to spend more time on. That's exactly what I'm talking about. Thanks for sharing.
In the past year, I have (like many others) gone from working full time to part time. This gives me more time in my studio to paint. And I have discovered a web community of artists (especially the daily painters) and recently started a blogging record of my artwork. I plan on using this time to redevelop my direction, and keep on going with it.
Never planed anything in the past.
But I think I will have to plan for 2009.
Time slips away fast, and can't afford to live in the motion.
I love your ideas here! I basically believe that every day is New Years Day and try to live life fully, with kindness and love each day. No, not perfect but if I falter, I can start again tomorrow!
I decided last night ,since I went from parttime to full time and now work at least an extra 10 hours a week, to do something everyday to make myself smile. Whether it by petting the cat or laughing at a joke a coworker makes. If I can find a reason to smile everyday then I have a reason to go on.
In this new year I resolve to do the following:
-Paint/Create/Write something personal and significant every week (if not daily);
-I will not beat myself up over past regrets and life “miscalculations”;
-To live every day as if it’s my last, to boldly go forth in life, with no fear;
-To take better care of my body and mind in an ecologically and economically responsible fashion.
I have been hearing an inner voice lately (no I don't need meds or a rubber room) but I think it is pointing me in the direction of helping others more. Do we have money to donate to a charity or cause, absolutely not-in fact many would consider us a case in need of donations, we struggle each month to make ends meet-but I still hear the "voice" telling me to be of more service. My non resolution resolution is to follow that voice with action. To find a way to be of service to others.
have more patience and not to be so wrapped up in worrying about paying the bills, having a back up plan and a back-up backup plan and such a thank I am not enjoying the here and now, ever.
I have worked at a call center the past 4 years 3rd shift and the mainstay of my diet during the days I work has been junk for the vending machines. My resolution is to start packing healthy items for lunch and breaks. In this economy, even though I don't like my job, I am thankful to have one. My ex husband has not been so lucky; where he worked closed down in June and he has still not been able to find a job.
I also resolve to be more physically active, even if it is only more retail window shopping until summer comes and then get a season pass to a local pool because even if a person has a lot of injuries and ailments, you can still get some exercise swimming in a pool.
I have also vowed to craft, sew, bake and try new things in those areas even if I am not very good as I can use things I already have around the house, get things from thrift stores and buy baking things in quantity when they go on sale.
I also resolve to be a better Mom which will mean letting go in some areas and tightening the reins in others and trying to pray to find the patience and the wisdom to know which to do when.
One of my resolutions for this year is to be a bigger part of my nephews' lives. They live a couple of states (and 100s of miles) away and are still in elementary school, so keeping in touch with them requires more than an email every week or so (the big one doesn't check his email very often...the little one is still working on learning to read). But phone calls, packages and more visits this year will help. Hopefully airfares will stay fairly cheap.
I have two resolutions: the first is to spend more time being intimate with my husband - more sex, yes, but also more time just spent appreciating each other's company, talking, laughing, that kind of stuff.
Second is to stick to a budget - in these lean times, I bet this is a really popular one, but my action plan includes tracking all of my spending in a special section of my daytimer, setting up a direct deposit to savings, and taking lunch to work every day instead of going out.
I just finished my third year without chocolate; three years ago I resolved not to eat it any more. I do eat it once a year - New Year's Day. I thoroughly enjoy New Year's.
My major resolution this year is to dump cable altogether. My spouse has come around and now agrees that TV lowers our quality of life, it doesn't improve it. Now we need to sell this HD-PVR.
Thanks for posting the questionnaire. I found it very helpful. Thinking about the things I usually make resolutions about, like getting more exercise and being more in touch with my spirituality, I realized that there's a simple, fun way to accomplish what I need with one resolution. Therefor, I resolve to spend more time outdoors.
As a neo-pagan, I believe that God is nature. As a student, writer, and video game enthusiast, I always feel I need to work more exercise into my life to get back into shape. As a wife, I need to be sure to have time to spend with my husband. I can accomplish all of these things if I choose to spend more time doing things I love outdoors: hiking, backpacking, climbing trees, and even bird watching. By making a commitment to make myself happy by making time for outdoor activities, I am making a commitment to exercising, spending more time with my husband, and keeping in touch with God. Thanks for a great post that made me really think about my resolution this year.
- sing much more often! I love doing it, I'm fairly good at it, and I'm going to increase the frequency of rocking out in my car, stores, parking lots, elevators, wherever!
- take a chance and meet more new people! When I moved into a new neighbourhood a few months ago I approached and introduced myself to a few new people and discovered that some folks are actually pretty nice and there are even a few out there that I have some things in common with, so I should do this more often.
- have my first baby! A huge commitment that my hubby and I have finally decided to take the leap toward!
I am resolved to spend less time worrying about what other people think of me. Hopefully this will increase my self-esteem and allow me to show my true self to others in both my professional and personal life!
I resolve to kiss my husband every day when he gets home from work (or when I get home, if it's after him). *grabs the lip balm* :)
I love this idea (though as a WB blogger, I am not officially entering). It has taken me a while to figure out that pursuing what you love can more useful than avoiding what's not good for you; and that focusing on what you want to accomplish often means less time for bad habits. I am still in the process of making my list but thanks for the ideas.
This is a fascinating read. I also feel that practical resolutions are great too. I thought the wisebread community would like to know about a great website that helps you make a pack with yourself and includes financial penalties and rewards! It's called stickk.com - to learn more, check it out:
http://www.onemillionbucks.net/2008/09/no-self-discipline-don-corleone-s...
Best of luck in 2009!
I have resolved to buy something new at the grocery store every time I go. I'm hoping to learn something between discovering new (and maybe healthier) alternatives to my weekly refridgerator restock and researching new recipes.
Though I am working on a longer list, I have 2 main goals for 2009. One is very general. I want to work on enjoying the journey. I am a worrier. Although I think this is partly just my temperament, I really want to work on enjoying the moment rather than always thinking I can relax when ... There is always something new to fill in that blank. I need to learn how to enjoy NOW. The second goal is more specific. I want to make sure I spend at least 20 minutes a day outside doing something at least reasonably active. I love nature but I tend to hole up inside with a book or the computer and it horrifies me that I can go for weeks without being outside longer than it takes to get from the car to the house or work. I live in beautiful rural Vermont and I love it. I need to get outside and revel in it more. Happy New Year!
My resolution is to not let perfection get in the way of progress.
I've always put off doing things (going to the gym, organizing the sock drawer, etc.) because I couldn't devote the proper amount of time or energy to these tasks to complete them perfectly and thoroughly in one go. I have been working on letting go of that little voice that says "it's pointless to start if you can't finish" and just start chipping away at projects or tasks a little at a time.
Preface - I am a mom of two preschoolers plus a co-owner of a business I run with my husband. Plus I am active in my church and community.
2008's resolution - to do less. This was important for me, because I am a doer - I see stuff that needs doing and I jump in. But I was doing wayyyyyy too much and no prioritization was taking place. So I cut way back, and reorganized my life - delegated (and hired more staff) in the business, reoriented my volunteering to stuff that was low impact/low cost for us and high impact for the non-profit, and tried to spend more just hanging out time with my family. It was a hard year to do less, and in some ways I didn't (worked very hard, too few vacations), but I figure, it is a journey, not a destination...
2009's resolution - to work on ways to maintain perspective. It is very hard with the media screaming the world is ending, with running a small business, with general worries about kids and parenting and so forth, to realize that in fact we have it really really good. Perspective is what I need to make good decisions, as well as to enjoy the decisions and good fortune we have. But perspective is like many things - you don't gain it once and then you have it for the rest of your life. Instead, I have to work at maintaining it, and learning ways to know when I have lost perspective, and figuring out ways to gain it back (when I don't have the luxury of a month long sabbatical, for example).
So my resolution is to create multiple ways to keep perspective - and to mark this effort as an important priority to leave time/energy/$ for.
Many years back I overdid it with the resolutions and ended up causing myself a great deal of guilt because I couldn't live up to my unrealistic goals. Now, instead, I spend NYE reflecting on the year past and talking with my family about things that went well, went badly, and things I'd like to change next yet. It's low key and helps me tune into the values and beliefs of my loved ones.
My goal for this year is to give more time to right brain activities and leisure time pursuits, as I did when I was very young -- pre-professional. I tend to nurture the intellectual pursuits, because that's why I get paid, and let the creative wait 'til there's time... As someone kindly pointed out above, it's later than you think.
That being said, I intend to get back into balance with more creative stuff. More creative writing is a good place to start... lots more creative writing...
This year I am going to learn to make yeast breads. I miss good ole New Orleans French bread and I'd like to try to make my own. Should be fun... and delicious. It's something I've always wanted to do and 2009 will be the year.
Rather than make one resolution, I'm jumping on the 101 things in 1001 days bandwagon! (http://www.triplux.com/dayzero/) I'm excited about this project, as I'll be able to accomplish both practical things (such as getting my passport and learning how to drive stick shift) and fun, personal growth related things (such as starting to journal again and getting a tattoo).
This contest is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Jen (#12)!