Twenty Positive Things to do for Your Body and Mind This Year - Ashley & Emily
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Twenty Positive Things to do for Your Body and Mind This Year

We are trying to incorporate more positive things into our lives this year. In with the positive and out with the negative! We brainstormed a list of simple ways we can do this. The list isn’t meant to be intimidating, but little things you can add in here and there throughout the year, instead of all at once.

 

 

  1. Drink more water. This one is pretty self-explanatory. I am way more likely to drink more water if it’s ice-cold and out of a tumbler with a straw.
  2. Go on a walk. Even if it’s just for ten minutes – it will clear your head and get your brain and body moving. Even better if you listen to self-development audiobook or podcast.
  3. Develop a morning routine. To me, this is key. If you start the same way every single day, and it’s full of positive things – you are setting yourself up for success. We like to start our days with affirmations, prayer, and meditation before we open our laptops or check email. We will be doing full posts on each of our routines soon!
  4. Read more books. I don’t care if it’s fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or 50 Shades of Grey. Just read! My goal this year is to read one non-fiction book a month.
  5. See a therapist. This is a huge goal of mine this year. I know it’s something I need to do, but I have been putting it off. I know that everyone can benefit from it, I just need to take the first step! Let’s do it together.
  6. Lift weights. I can’t stress this enough. You will thank me later!
  7. Wear sunscreen. If I could change anything about my life, it would be that I was more strict about this in my twenties. This one is my favorite.
  8. Apologize less. Read Girl, Stop Apologizing for a more articulate way of putting this. Stop apologizing for having to work. Stop apologizing for things you aren’t sorry for. Sure, apologize when you mean it. But apologizing for every little thing, especially in the workplace can undermine your authority and confidence.
  9. Foam roll. I am terrible at this — but I am working on it. I really want to incorporate this into my nightly routine so I can get in the habit of doing it every single day.
  10.  Make your bed. This is a new habit of mine and it really is making such a difference. At my old house, I preferred to never leave my bed, so I never made it. But now that we’ve moved and I have a more comfortable space to live and work, it’s totally different! It does really set the tone for the day and only takes one minute. I find that I am so much more likely to keep my whole room clean.
  11. Take naps. Maybe it’s because I’m pregnant but I can’t stress this enough. If you’re tired, listen to your body. Slow down, rest up.
  12. Take your vitamins. Do your own research on which ones are best for you, but make this a part of your daily routine! Your energy will be better, you will get sick less, and you can perform at a higher level.
  13. Cut toxic people out of your life. This seems hard, but once you do it, you will wonder why it took so long. Life is too short to put energy into people you don’t like, respect, or trust.
  14. Unfollow anyone who triggers you. This one is huge. Don’t feel bad about doing this — just do it. If someone you follow is sparking negativity in your life, unfollow them. If it’s your cousin or coworker and feel awkward about it, then just hit the mute button.
  15. Get into a skincare routine. Check out our full post on this here, but it’s never too late to start!
  16. Take a bath. I do it every day – it’s the perfect end to my evening and it allows me to unwind and relax fully. I light my candles, listen to a podcast or audiobook and just chill the f out.
  17. Stop saying you don’t have time. If you really believe this, then write down what you do for an entire day — cut out anything unnecessary to make time for the things you keep making excuses about not having time to do the things you want to do like go to the gym, start that side hustle, or spend extra time with your kids. You have the time, you’re just not managing it well.
  18. Say no to things you don’t want to do. I do this all the time, and sometimes I feel guilty, but my time is precious, and if I don’t want to do something I simply won’t do it. This actually changed my business immensely last year. We are adults and it’s okay to prioritize work over certain things. This doesn’t mean you can be a bad friend, but to skip a happy hour when you don’t drink, or barely like the people attending — it’s fine.
  19. Set some goals. Whether they be for the year, day week, month, whatever, just set them. Focus on one big one at a time, and then crush those little daily goals like making your bed, or drinking your water. Achieving the bigger ones will be that much easier.
  20. Call your parents or a friend just because. I am big on keeping in touch, but it’s kind of weird for me because I feel like social media lets everyone know exactly how or what I’m doing. I need to let that go and pick up the phone to actually connect with the people I love. Watching their IG stories don’t count because as we all know – it’s just a highlight reel.

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Comments

  1. Saving this list to look back to over the year! I started saying “no” to more things in 2019 & it made such a difference!

    ~Amy

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