Deep Dive: New Year’s Resolutions
In-Depth Analysis with Alexandria
Make Resolutions You Can Keep
ALSO in PINK is the podcast all about lifestyle design. So, what does that mean? Itβs essentially exploring who you are, who you want to be and how you want to live. To help you on your way, these deep-dive episodes go all-in on a particular topic. Iβll highlight a specific aspect of the KonMari Method, personal style or lifestyle. And Iβm open to suggestions. If thereβs something youβd particularly like to learn more about, drop me a line.
Todayβs deep-dive episode focuses on New Yearβs resolutions. Should you make them and how can you keep them? And whatβs the one New Yearβs resolution we should (really) all make?
It’s All About SMART Goals
Thatβs why a programme like Couch to 5K is so effective. Itβs a SMART goal in action. It gives you a specific goal. It breaks it down week by week. It holds you accountable. And itβs achievable β even for someone like me who is historically a terrible runner.
Sleep Is Your Superpower
If there’s one resolution we should all prioritise, it’s this: improve your sleep. Sleep scientist Matthew Walker has a fantastic MasterClass on this topic. He does a wonderful job of breaking down the science of sleep in terms we can all understand.
Matthew Walker’s 6 tips for better sleep:
- Regularity. Go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time every day (yes, weekdays and weekends). Even if you have a dodgy night of sleep, wake up at your usual time.
- Temperature. Keep it cool. Your brain and your body need to drop their core temperature in order to get to sleep and stay asleep. Aim for a room temperature of about 18Β°C or 65Β°F.
- Darkness. Darkness in the evening helps trigger the release of melatonin, a hormone that helps us feel sleepy. With that in mind, try to stay away from computer screens and mobile devices in the last hour before bed.
- Walk it out. Donβt stay awake in bed for long periods of time. If you canβt get to sleep after 25 minutes, instead of lying awake in bed, get out of bed and do something different.
- Be aware of the impact of alcohol and caffeine. As a rule of thumb, try to stay away from caffeine in the afternoon and the evening. And try not to go to bed too tipsy. Caffeine can decrease the amount of your deep non-rapid eye movement sleep: that deep restorative sleep. So, even if caffeine didnβt keep you awake in the night, you probably wonβt wake up feeling refreshed the next morning.
- Have a wind-down routine. It takes time for your brain to feel ready for sleep. Help yourself out by disengaging from mobile devices an hour before you want to go to sleep. Instead, try to do something relaxing. Find a wind-down routine that works for you. And when youβve found it, stick to that routine.
Take this MEQ test to help you figure out the best sleep cycle for you.
Make The Right Resolution For You
Take a step back and consider two things:
- Why do I want to make this specific change in my life? What are my motivations?
- Do I just want to do this because other people are doing it? Am I doing this because Sarah from next-door is doing it? Or because Mark said it was a good idea?
Itβs all very well to be inspired by others, but focus on whatβs right for you. Whatβs right for who you are now and who you want to be?
Theme or Resolution?
How about setting a theme for the year? This makes a nice alternative/addition to a resolution.Β Listen to the full episode for details.