It’s that time of year again! No, not “the most wonderful time of the year”. For most of us, the jingle bells are no longer ringing, the holiday greetings have died out, and all those “gay, happy meetings” are now manifesting on the bathroom scale. That being said, it is the time of year where we all start to reflect on the superstars we’re going to be!

I’m sure all the goals we set THIS year will be realized; Unlike last year and pretty much every year before that…right?!

YES! This is our year, and we can be successful in our New Year’s resolutions!

**By the way: if you’re one of the people who accomplish your goals every year, I have three things to say to you:

• Do not stop
• Congratulations
• Keep it up!

Now back to the rest of us ?** Again, I say YES! We can find success in 2023! BUT we’re going to have to tweak our strategies. Studies show that the best way to make real and lasting changes in our lives is to lay a strong foundation.

It may feel underwhelming to start with basics; but we’re being smart this year, right?! If it helps, think of it like investing in the stock market. The SMART thing to do is invest as little as possible in something that will yield the highest profits. We’re all jealous of the lucky ducks who managed to get in on the ground floor of companies like Microsoft or Apple!

So, let’s lay our own “ground floor”. For the next few weeks, we’re going to discuss some foundational changes we can institute in our lives that will yield significant dividends!

So, I ask, what is more foundational than sleep? Ahh…sleep, that elusive Holy Grail. Science confirms that a poor Circadian rhythm (sleep cycle) negatively affects your health in multiple ways:

• Chronic fatigue
• Mind fog
• Low energy

Also, increased chances of:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension,
• Obesity
• Heart attack
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stroke

Yikes! I do not think any of those are on our list of goals for next year.

First things first, we have got to be consistent with time. Pick a reasonable time that you can get to bed and when you can wake up.  It may prove challenging at first, but your body will adjust, and it will become a natural amazing habit!

There are a few things we can do to help us in this process:

• Set a reminder 2 hours before bed to shut off electronics. The reason for this is because the blue light from our device messes with our brain processes–like the production of melatonin– which makes falling asleep difficult. Find other things to do like reading, play board/card games with your family, write in your journal, or give your special someone some special time, whatever that involves! Not only will you be doing your brain a favor, but you’ll also be improving your mind and your relationships simultaneously! See what I mean by low investments with a high yield?
• If putting away devices all together proves to challenging at first, invest in some blue light-blocking glasses and set the alarm for just 1 hour before your set bedtime. You can find some good deals on amazon for blue light glasses.
• Our bodies need routine. The last thing we can focus on is self-care for yourself and your space. Turn off non-essential lights, clean up a room in your house, brush your teeth, wash your face, light a candle, take a bubble bath. Do whatever makes you feel the most relaxed. You decide but BE CONSISTENT.

This simple yet huge change will pay off! Let’s give our plan a whirl this week and get a jump on the new year! Good luck to all!