Can you believe we’re moving into a new decade? Make this the decade you set your resolutions and actually stick to them. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, only 46% of people who make New Year’s resolutions are successful.
If you fall in the other 54%, your past resolution fails may not have been all your fault. Your environment has a large influence on your personal well-being and success. You can make small shifts in your environment to make big changes in your life.
We’ve taken some of the most common New Year’s resolutions and gathered ways you can hack your home to help you succeed. Resolution fails will be a thing of the past!
Common NY Resolution #1: Lose weight
One of the most popular resolutions for the average American is to drop a few pounds.
The first home hack you can make is in the kitchen. Rather than focusing on what foods you’ll be taking away, focus on the foods you’ll be adding in. You know what they say, abs are made in the kitchen!
You’ll likely be adding in a lot of veggies and fruits. Coming home after a long day of work to the dinner option of a limp lettuce salad will definitely cause a resolution relapse. So, it’s important that you store your greens and fruits properly!
Here are the best ways to give your common produce items a longer shelf life.
In the Fridge:
Apples: Store them in the fridge. They soften ten times faster at room temperature.
Asparagus: Wrap your bunch with a moist paper towel or you can stand them up in a glass of cold water and wrap the top of the stalk with a damp paper towel.
Lettuce: Wash really well with water before refrigerating. Dry the leaves and store them in a glass container with a few dry paper towels (if at any time this paper towel feels wet, replace it with another dry one).
Berries: Plastic bags with tiny vents help keep berries fresh longer by releasing moisture. Use vented bags for grapes, blueberries, cherries and strawberries.
On the Counter:
Garlic and Onions: Keep at room temperature (or cooler) in a well-ventilated area.
Tomatoes: Store at room temperature and washed just before using.
Mangoes, Plums, Peaches, Pears: Let ripen at room temperature in a brown paper bag and once ripe, refrigerate for longer storage.
Pineapple: Store your pineapple upside down for a day or two at room temperature to allow the sweetness to spread throughout the fruit.
Melons: Keep whole melons at room temperature. Cantaloupe can be stored at room temperature, but it will ripen quickly. Once ripe, chop and serve!
Common NY Resolution #2: Get better sleep
Your ability to sleep well is greatly impacted by your home environment. The average American only gets about 6.8 hours of sleep (which is way below what we need to feel energized).
We have so many easy home hacks to help you sleep! If you typically watch an evening TV show or plop on the couch to read, place an essential oil diffuser on a nearby table. Each night, put a few drops of lavender in it to help you unwind. Make sure to wear blue-light-blocking glasses while watching your show or reading on your tablet, so your brain can begin to relax.
Speaking of blue-light-blocking, the lighting in your environment also makes a big difference. Your brain cannot start making melatonin until about 3 hours after its last exposure to blue light. Before we had electricity, we would navigate the dark through candlelight. After 8pm, try to steer clear of blue light screens and turn on a few warm, yellow lamps instead.
If you have trouble staying asleep at night, heat up your choice of milk and then mix in a few pinches of nutmeg. The nutmeg kicks in four hours after you take it, so it’s great for helping you fall asleep and then stay asleep.
Common NY Resolution #3: Get organized
As you’re likely aware, the Kon Mari organization techniques were all the rave of 2019 lifestyle hacks. But one of the most helpful organization takeaways to keep in mind is to have “homes” within your home. Meaning… every object within your home should have its own “home.”
Where does the remote live? (In between the couch cushions is not the right answer.) Where do your phone chargers and device cords live? Where does your mail live or your keys? Finding a home for loose objects will be a game-changer in your home.
Common NY Resolution #4: Complete a passion project
Speaking of organization, you not only need a home for your remote, but you also need to designate a space for your dream to live. This is YOUR year to make your dreams happen (and your house can help)! Whether you want to write a book, launch an Etsy business, start a YouTube channel or take on another passion project, your environment can motivate you to get to work.
Pick an area in your home where you feel creative and can focus easily. Keep this area clear of unnecessary clutter and free of work that isn’t related to your passion project (like bills or other distracting to-dos). Create an accountability chart and keep it posted in this area. Each time you sit down to dedicate time toward your passion project, check an accountability box. Set a goal for the number of boxes you’d like to check each week.
Also consider how you want to feel in this space. Do you want to feel clear and focused? Creative and insightful? Colorful and inspired? Ambitious and powerful? Cozy and grounded? Figure out how you want to feel in the space and then set it up according to those feelings.
