Sip Sip is a weekly newsletter dedicated to making moms feel SEEN in the realm of mental health. As the editor, I’m committed to easing your mom woes — one newsletter at a time — through advice, lessons, and humor.
Happy New Year.
Whether you despise New Year’s goals or live for them, that New Year New You attitude is somewhat contagious. While some people (mainly on social media) can be real annoying with their “Let’s make this year the BEST YEAR YET!” posts, why scoff at the idea of bettering ourselves?
I will say…
I think we have a diluted version of New Year’s. One of turning into a happier, hotter, more successful version of ourselves at the stroke of midnight, simply because a new year is dawning. But I think that’s okay.
After all, our kids get to hoot and holler for weeks in anticipation of Santa Claus — why can’t we have that same fairytale feeling at New Year’s?
I will also say…
That typical New Year’s Resolutions like eating healthier, exercising more, and getting enough sleep are stupid goals — if you can even call them goals. (A) We should all just be doing those things, and (B) they are far too vague to work for longer than a week, let alone an entire year.
Obviously, there are phases of life (like being a new mom) where sleep isn’t possible. And periods where working out every day is not the priority — due to injury, finances, fatigue, or let’s just be real here, motherhood.
The point is…
If the pandemic has taught us anything (how many times are we going to read that line this year?), it’s that our days aren’t guaranteed. So to be spending even one day doing something that frustrates, annoys, or bores us is really no one’s fault but our own.
That said! Here are 13 New Year Resolutes that any wellness-driven woman will love.
Give someone a compliment every day. Giving compliments can be just as uplifting as receiving them. Be a nice girl.
Send a friend a card in the mail every week. Be it a friend, family member, old colleague, or an acquaintance you just clicked with, you’d be surprised at how many fabulous people you have in your life if you just sit down and reminisce for a minute.
Make going to the movies a lifestyle. I love the movies. I love the popcorn, I love the ear-deafening surround sound, I love the commercials leading up to the movies, I LOVE THE MOVIES. Set aside one day a month to go to the cinema. It will not only give you something to look forward to every month, but it will turn you into a sought-after pop culture conversationalist.
Give yourself a daily Instagram limit. I like to use Instagram for business, but I also enjoy a good mind-numbing scroll every now and again just like the rest of us. Instead of checking the app every chance I get, I’m going to give myself 3 check-ins per day — morning, noon and night.
Become a pro at secondhand shopping. There’s really no comparison when it comes to the experience of perusing a cool vintage store versus a chain like H&M. Talk about a shopping buzzkill. Apps like Poshmark really are a goldmine, as are local thrift shops.
Read more, scroll less. Simple, effective, and incredibly mood-boosting.
Eat breakfast. An actual breakfast, not a KIND bar.
Sit down to eat lunch, distraction free. This is one of the best things I have done for my body, my mental health, and my overall wellness. Taking 15 minutes to make (or buy or heat up) lunch, followed by sitting down at a table to eat it, WITHOUT your phone, has become my favorite midday wellness ritual.
Make a big deal about dinner. Put out the place settings, play music, light candles, pour a generous glass of wine and enjoy your home-cooked or takeout meal the way you would at a restaurant.
Learn a new rotation of recipes to make. Falling victim to the same rotation of meals happens to the best of us, but it really is a drag. Spice your life up via new nutritious and delicious meals (and snacks!) to feed yourself and your family from an actual cookbook…not Pinterest.
Start (or add) a new workout to your fitness regime. If you’re a cycle addict like me, why not give kickboxing a whirl? Same goes for yogis or runners — why not give tap dancing or rowing a go? Your body benefits from mixing things up. I believe (along with many trusted experts and fitness instructors) that sticking to a fitness plan that involves cardio, weights, strength training, and HIIT workouts to not only give you the best results physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.
Start a new Saturday ritual. Nails with a friend? Hike with your husband? Brunch by yourself? Give yourself the gift of something to look forward to every week to destress and recharge.
Start a new Sunday ritual that’s less self-care and more community care. Aka volunteer somewhere for an hour or join the choir at your church.
Bonus Resolutes
I think the best New Year’s resolutions are those that become habits. And I think the simpler, the better. If you thrive on routine, here is a simple guideline to live by in the realm of that New Year New Us mantra:
Weekly — Try a new plant-based recipe each week. I will be doing this via my new Plant Over Processed cookbook.
Monthly — Learn something new every month, like salsa dancing. Jake, are you reading this?
Seasonally — Take weekend trips to new places with your husband/wife and/or friends. I am all about seasonal resets. I believe they are the secret mental health cure that prevents us from snapping at our partners and freaking out over something as ridiculous as a long line at Whole Foods.
Let me know what your intentions and goals are for the New Year if you dare!!
Keep being you.
Xo, Ash
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