Guest BloggersHealth & BeautyHolidays

New Year Positivity – Sarah Thomas Pilcher

Guest blog by Sarah Thomas Pilcher

Look at your life at this very moment, and ask yourself what negative people, habits and things you could remove from it.

Negativity spreads like wildfire, and it’s only a matter of time before you start to notice that you have picked up those negative habits yourself. Between paying holiday bills, figuring out what to do with your life and forming meaningful relationships, why waste it on negative people or habits?

Before you start putting together your New Year’s resolutions, remember your expectations and reality. So don’t purge your friends and pantry just yet.

Let’s start with writing our real goals.

Learn to be happier with your life

What does that mean? It simply means be happy with the positive things you have in your own life without comparing your life to others. The path someone lives is not necessarily yours to take or copy. Be original, which means be yourself and follow your own path.

Be kind

In a world of social media, we can get a bit narcissistic and forget there’s a whole world around us of people who need our help. This is why I try to teach my yoga students about Karma Yoga. Karma Yoga is the selfless giving of oneself through the medium of work and stems from the love that finds fulfillment in pure giving without thought of self-gain or acknowledgment. So open the door for the lady with three little children following behind as she makes a dash to the grocery store.

Watch less TV

My hubby and I are hooked on the show “This Is Us” – like you are, too. Yet we do make time for our family for game nights. With all the politics, celebrity gossip and reality shows, it’s good to take a break from it every once and awhile. Even picking up a good book and getting lost in chapters for a while is healthy.

Get more quality sleep

New year, new sleep pattern, people. Let’s try together to get at least 7 to 8 hours of undisturbed sleep – with the exception of my new parents with newborns. (We know that you are lucky to get 5 to 6 hours of restful sleep, but congratulations on your new bundle – or bundles – of joy!) Sleep is essential for a person’s health and well-being, according to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF).

Healthy eating

There are so many diet plans out there, who really can keep up? Before you go into the ‘new year diet,’ see your doctor and ask her or him which healthy diet regimen is best for you. If you’re going vegetarian, or even vegan, know that it’s going take time and mistakes until you figure it out and your body adjusts to the changes. Look for factual research on how to make diet changes. Talk to a nutritionist, or email me and I will help you out as well.

Try yoga

Eastern practice of yoga has become a modern-day symbol of peace, calmness and complete well-being in the West. However, there is not enough emphasis on the mental, psychological and cognitive benefits of yoga — and there are plenty. If yoga is something you want to add to your new year’s goals, here are the benefits you will find with the right teachers or yoga studio.

Mental & Emotional Benefits – Meditation and breathing can help improve a person’s mental well-being so that they can deal with stress, anxiety, insomnia, depression and other common mood disorders. It also:

  • Boosts memory and improves concentration
  • Prevents of the onset of mental health conditions, which are prevalent during adolescence
  • Reduces the effects of traumatic experiences

Safe instruction will assure you get the most from your yoga practice, and while getting injured is unlikely, a good teacher will assure that you don’t get hurt. No matter what shape you’re in, there’s an abundance of yoga class offerings to help you get started.

Physical benefits – The relaxation techniques in yoga can lessen chronic pain, such as lower back pain, arthritis, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome. Other benefits include:

  • Increased flexibility
  • Increased muscle strength and tone
  • Improved respiration, energy and vitality
  • Maintaining a balanced metabolism
  • Weight reduction
  • Cardio and circulatory health
  • Improved athletic performance
  • Protection from injury

Here are some yoga studios in Central Arkansas that would be great for starting your yoga journey for 2018:

New Year’s resolutions are possible to see through and take with you for rest of your life journey. Remember to take it one day at a time, not a year at a time. I wish you all a Happy New Year!

Photography provided by Caitlin Davidson with Carper Creative Photography | Makeup by Aaron Perkins with Face Your Day Salon

Sarah Thomas Pilcher is an IA contributor
Inviting Arkansas

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Stay up-to-date on our latest news!