New Year Resolutions

Every year we write out a set of New Year resolutions to either lose weight, eat healthier, go to the gym, and like every year, we vow to stick to them no matter what.

The problem with New Year resolutions is that we are initially motivated with them and then life slowly goes back to the way it was, and these resolutions eventually take a backseat to everything else.

I have always had these problems and would really like to make significant changes in my life this year. I’ve created a daily checklist of things that I would like to keep track of in hopes of creating a healthy habit of more than one thing at a time. We’ll see how it goes.

If you would like to print out your own set of monthly tracking sheets, please click here.

Each page is a separate month that will help you track various things that will help promote a happier and healthier life.

You are free to use my chart as a reference for customizing your own or feel free to use them as they are. Here’s a brief explanation of each columns that I’ve listed:

Hours Slept – Every morning, you should write down how many hours you slept. This will help you see just how much sleep you are getting each night and help you get motivated to hit the sack earlier if you are not hitting your recommended average.

Here is a sleep guide from www.helpguide.org

Average Sleep Needs by Age
Newborn to 2 months old	12 – 18 hrs
3 months to 1 year old	14 – 15 hrs
1 to 3 years old	12 – 14 hrs
3 to 5 years old	11 – 13 hrs
5 to 12 years old	10 – 11 hrs
12 to 18 years old	8.5 – 10 hrs
Adults (18+)	7.5 – 9 hrs

 

 

 

 

 

Steps Taken – To track just how many steps you take in a day. Many people say the average person should take about 10,000 steps each day. Ten thousand steps is supposed to help promote a healthy body and mind, but the average office worker or overall sedentary person will only take between 1,000 and 2,500 steps each day, which is a dangerously low number. You can track your steps with a pedometer or by using an app on your smartphone. I’ve been using the Ozeri digital pedometer and so far, it’s pretty good.

Glasses – This section is to help you track just how much water you are drinking per day. I know the standard that has been thrown around is 8 glasses per day but the actual amount depends on the person, their environment and active lifestyle. To find out how much you might need per day, check out this page on About.com: http://nutrition.about.com/library/blwatercalculator.htm

Workout Min. – The dreaded workout routine. Even if you can take 10 minutes out of each day for a quick workout, it can have a lot of positive benefits for your overall health. Give it a try and make sure to keep track of each workout session. Looking at the numbers just might motivate you to increase your workout time each day.

Clean – One problem that everyone faces is having a busy lifestyle with little time to clean around the house. This section is to help you write down just one area around the house that was cleaned/organized. If you clean up one area each day, it will help maintain a tidier home.

$ – This section is to help you keep track of money that was made or saved during the day. If you would like to make a little extra cash on the side, this column will help you track how much you make each day. If you’re goal is to save more money throughout the year, track down how much was put away or saved from coupons, sales, deals etc..

There you have it. I hope my charts will help you reach your goals this year. Please tell me what you think I can add to improve this list. I would love to hear your thoughts!

What do you do to stay on track of your resolutions?

Revive Your Senses in Nature

I spent the long-weekend in a cabin located by Algonquin park for my Birthday.

I love going up north at least once every few months because it clears my mind and rejuvenates my soul.  Whenever people say that all humans need to connect with nature, it kind of sounds cheesy… but totally true.

Just a moment by the water, in a forest, on a mountain, anything away from the city or the modern world can do wonders on your physical and mental health.

If you think you don’t have time for it, make time at least once in a year.

Plan a getaway and leave everything behind, even if it’s for a day!

Adenture and the Northern Lights in Yukon Canada

Yukon is a territory of Canada and a neighbour of Alaska. Many people believe there is nothing but snow and ice, but there are actually many wonderful experiences to be had!  Witness various wildlife in their natural habitat, enjoy the incredible views of the Northern Lights and feel excitement while taking in the landscape during a dog sled ride.

When visiting Canada, a trip to Yukon is a short plane ride away from Vancouver British Columbia. Being a popular holiday destination for people from Japan, there’s a group that offers travel packages from Tokyo to Yukon and back again: oce-center.org.

 

More Winter Fun Outdoors

We took some time off to get some hiking and snowshoeing in before the winter ended (and because it felt like a great time to unwind from not-so-fun-stuff from everyday life).

We packed up a few essentials like warm thermals, hot tea, snacks and extra socks for the cold Northern winter and headed out to Algonquin Park (see map here).

Our first day there was absolutely beautiful. The sun was out, the weather was warm (by Canadian winter standards) and our trail was easy to handle.

The second day….could have been nicer but it was lovely snowfall nonetheless.

What do you enjoy doing during winter as a way to unwind from a hectic life?  Comment below and share!

 

Snow Day!

Lots of snow has surrounded our home…and much of Canada and the North-Eastern US states. It looks pretty everywhere we go although we do empathize those who are struggling with wicked weather in their areas. For others in the city, many have declared today a snow day and have taken the day off work. This is conveniently on a Friday before a long weekend, so many people get to enjoy four days off unexpectedly this month.

Luckily, I already had the day off, so I took some time to cook a decent meal and bake something delicious. Yum!

***Banana pistachio cake recipe to be posted tomorrow!***

 

 

Winter in the City

We’ve had a string of snowy days and it’s quite beautiful outside.  I love brisk walks on cold days, especially when the sun is shining. To give you an idea of my neighbourhood, here are a few photos from some of our days out: