Healthy and happy, it’s what we all want as we start the new year. We want to be healthier and happier in the new year. It’s what we want for our family, our friends. But how do we acheive it? I have one word for you. Discipline. It takes discipline to carve out the time and find the energy to replace bad habits with good habits. It takes discipline to make room in our days for things we know are important but have been sadly neglected for some time now.
Discipline. Does that word bring up images of punishment for you? It does for me. But a necessary ingredient for improvement, for growth, for change. So, what areas am I going to demonstrate discipline in the coming new year? And how will it make me healthier and happier?
- Take time to draw closer to the Lord. Set aside time each day, morning if possible to read God’s Word, study, pray. Draw closer to Him and He will strengthen and motivate you to great things. An effective, yet simple, way to study our Bible is the S.O.A.P method – Scripture/Observation/Application/Prayer – it can be used by adults or children, individually or as a group.
- Get things in order. Let go of things that are cluttering your life, both physical and emotional. I’m a sentimental pack-rat and it’s hard for me to let things go. I can find a reason to store up all kinds of crazy things. But in the end, it becomes work to keep up with it all or to find room for it all or to remember where I put it all.
- Enjoy one another. Build relationship with your spouse, with your children. Find ways to enjoy being together! This past year I’ve been distracted away from my family while learning how to be a work-at-home wife and mother. The most important people in my life have taken a back seat to my own personal ventures way too often.
- Establish daily routines. Have set routines for morning, evening, mealtime, etc. sets the stage for living a more disciplined and productive life. Making it a habit to walk through certain activities at certain times each day sets you up for success. ‘Nony’ at A Slob Comes Clean tells us how she overcame a huge obstacle of being overwhelmed when she began loading the dishwasher every night and emptying it every morning.
- Incorporate God-made foods and medicines rather than man-made foods and medicines as much as possible. God created our bodies, gave us life. God created this world in which we live and the foods necessary for us to live and grow and survive. Makes sense that we look to Him for our sources of health and nutrition. Our family is adding in more fresh/raw fruits and veggies along with nuts and healthy fats and oils. I am investing time into learning more about herbal medicine and essential oils, making more and more of our own health and personal care items myself. I’m reading through several resources I purchased in the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle earlier this fall. It takes discipline to fit all this into my days, but it’s worth it!
- Get Moving! Putting a few more steps in my day, getting out and enjoying the great outdoors with children for even a few minutes each day, help improvement the body and the mind and the spirit. I’ll be getting my T-tapp workouts back in my routine and setting the timer when I sit down at the computer to remind me when my sitting time is finished.
To help us gain discipline in all these areas I’m using the resources listed below. (They are my affiliate links, my family benefits when you purchase but there is no additional charge whatsoever to you). I have purchased and will be or have used all these for myself and my family. We’ve found them invaluable and we think you will too.
Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle is available once again for TWO DAYS ONLY! Just in time to give your New Year’s Resolutions a jump start!
These ebooks a AWESOME! and the 2-book set is on sale for $5 through January. $5 is normally the cost of one of the individual e-books included the set! (regular price for the set is $8) Click here to view more details
I will be revisiting Simplified Organization: The Course to focus in on household organization. Misty is amazing and presents things in a simple and complete but easy to follow manner. Misty also wrote an ebook/system called Paperless Organizing. Talk about eliminating clutter!
And what about finding that perfect daily schedule and routine? My friend Amy from Raising Arrows has written a wonderful book filled with tips and tricks and inspiration on that very topic.
Amy’s Guide to the Perfect Homekeeping Schedule has something for everyone, whether your children are young or grown and gone. You’ll be able to relate and apply her nuggets of wisdom if you are a stay-at-home homeschooling mom, or working outside the home. (Click here to view more details)
I am simplifying my meal planning and time in the kitchen with Sidetracked Sarah’s Weekly Slow Cooker Meals (Click here to visit Sidetracked Sarah.) and Simplified Dinners by Misty (Find out more by clicking here.)
I’ve only touched the tip of the ice berg here. What steps are YOU taking for a healthier and happier new year?
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