Here’s an innovative health and wellness tip: As you prepare to ring out the old and bring in the New Year, here’s one more thing to celebrate: yourself . Yes, acknowledging your successes from the past year can be a nice way to boost personal wellness. Taking a few moments to reflect on something positive is a vital part of achieving optimal health and personal excellence.
Practicing self-care by making time to reflect on things you did well can help boost mental and emotional wellness. It can also help reduce stress and decrease overwhelm by shifting your focus away from problems and towards solutions. Another benefit is that it models healthy behavior for the way you want other people to treat you. After all, if you don’t appreciate yourself who will?
Taking time to appreciate your successes can also boost personal motivation by increasing confidence and self-esteem. The added enthusiasm can make it easier for you to follow through with your other New Year’s resolutions. Starting with an attitude of success and confidence makes it easier to work towards a goal than starting with feelings of guilt or dread.
If you’re more accustomed to identifying your flaws than your successes, you might need some ideas to get started celebrating yourself. Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think! First, make a list of all the things you did well this year. Remember to count the things you might take for granted. Here are a few ideas to jog your memory:
- Who did you help this year?
- Did you donate food, clothes, or money?
- What contributions did you make at work?
- Did you survive a big challenge?
- Did you do any volunteer work?
- What positive things did you do for your friends and families?
- What lessons did you learn?
After you make your list, take a few minutes to really acknowledge yourself for the great job you did. After that you might even want to do something really special to celebrate. Here are a few ideas:
- Write a letter of appreciation to yourself in your journal.
- Look in the mirror and compliment yourself.
- Take yourself out to a nice dinner.
- Buy yourself something special.
- Pamper yourself: Get your hair done, go for a massage, or get your nails done.
However you choose to do it, remember to celebrate yourself. You deserve it!
Have a happy, healthy and safe New Year.
Be well!
Holistic Wellness Speaker Dr. Donna L. Hamilton, MD, MS, FAAP is a former board-certified pediatrician residing in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She is Chief Wellness Officer and co-owner of Manifest Excellence, LLC. Dr. Hamilton specializes in holistic wellness promotion and speaks nationally on this topic. Her company Manifest Excellence teaches a comprehensive approach to health and wellness by addressing mental, emotional, social, spiritual and physical wellbeing. For more information visit www.ManifestExcellence.com
A wellness thought leader, she champions a comprehensive approach to health by addressing mental, emotional, social, spiritual & physical well-being with a simple and potent message. Her book Wellness Your Way offers a practical strategy to assist readers in creating a happier, healthier life. For more information or to book Dr. Hamilton for speaking engagements visit www.ManifestExcellence.com or www.DonnaHamiltonMD.com
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