This week we say good-bye to 2025 and stand on the brink of a brand new year. It's a traditional time for planning ahead, setting goals and mapping out the next year of our life. Do you ever set goals and then give up on them before too long? Well, this year is going to be different!
Make Incremental Improvements
When setting goals, it's important not to take on too many changes all at the same time. One thing at a time is the rule of thumb.
This year I used this "rule" to improve my skincare and oral care routine. I used to give myself excuses for not doing all the things... I was too tired, or I was in a hurry. Well, no more. 2025 helped me set up and maintain a very robust and healthy routine.
The main change I made to what I did before, was to set out everything I need for all the steps of my routine on the bathroom counter. As I complete each step I return the items to the medicine cabinet. This has made it incredibly easy to add new steps to my regimen -- one at a time, of course.
I started by adding flossing to my routine--a habit I had tried to establish before and failed to do. All I did was put a container of floss with my other items (toothbrush, contact lenses, basic skin care). I "have to" use the floss before putting it away, thus establishing a healthy habit that my dental hygienist is very happy about. I recently added a healthy mouth rinse to my routine, by adding a shot glass and a bottle of Myrrh to the items that I set out. Now I brush, floss and then rinse with a drop of Myrrh in an ounce of water.
What started out as 3 or 4 basic steps has turned into a solid routine that has improved my oral health and keeps my skin glowing.
I hope that this method will inspire you to create some healthy new routines as well. Take your time in setting new routines, so you are not trying to do too much all at once.
Tie New Habits To Old Habits
Once you decide what new habit you want to make, get started by "tying" it to something that you already do every day. Make the new habit easy to do by putting what you need in that place where you do your existing habit. That way, you will notice it and take action -- you don't have to go looking for anything. Before you know it, you'll have formed a new habit. Keep building on the routine as you can manage adding new things. Don't try to change too much too fast.
Give Yourself Some Grace, but No Excuses
It's easy to do small new things, but it's also easy NOT to do them. Don't beat yourself up if you forget or even choose to skip once in a while... just remember why it's important to you, and why you decided to adopt the new habit. Then jump back in with both feet and keep going.
I'd love to hear what new habits you want to get going with! And of course, if you need help or encouragement, I'm just a message away and am always happy to help.
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