RESOLUTIONS: WHAT IS THE GOAL?
Do you have a new year's resolution, or several? 

If you do have more than one and they are large in scope, such as losing weight or getting a new job, the best approach is to be realistic in your change goals and to accept that change is a slow, but very rewarding, process. 

If you want to change many things about your life, it may help to reflect on the change you believe to be the most material to your happiness or sense of fulfillment. What really is the most important thing to you right now, January 2016? 

Is it career satisfaction? Finding more balance? Adopting a healthier, more sustainable, lifestyle? Making more time for family and close friends? Learning to take care of yourself, along with everyone else that depends on you?

WHAT IS THE PLAN?
The key to the plan is WHAT IS REALISTIC BASED ON MY LIFE?

Focus on the your one key goal and accept, for now, the others things about your life you would like to change. 

Now compose a REALISTIC plan based on the amount of time and energy you have given your weekly schedule to begin and sustain gradual, slow, evolutionary change. 

SLOW AND STEADY STAYS THE COURSE
Behavioral change is not often accomplished in a linear fashion. Maintain your patience as your change slowly, with the support of others. Often change occurs in a recycling pattern, so staying confident and committed during a perceived set back is very important. 

Often successful lasting change will come from this: one step forward, two back, four forward, two back, etc., course correct, and keep going. But slowly change takes hold and requires less and less effort. 

Learn more about change theory by scheduling a free coaching session.

Work with a wellness coach to get a new perspective this year.

Its September tomorrow! 

For most of us, this means a return to crazy schedules and greater demands on our time for the rest of the year.

Fall can sometimes also feel like resolution or new habit time, with that back-to-school vibe that we all remember. This makes it a great time to set a goal or lay the foundation for a new wellness routine. 

The best way to push and stretch yourself into a more productive, happier and/or healthier you is to do so with some self-love and humor. 

We won't change if we expect perfection or are too hard on ourselves. We will have setbacks on a new path; that is distinctly part of the change process. But with a few depreciating laughs and the endurance that self-love fuels, you will perserve in the long run. And as with all lifestyle changes, time and realistic incremental steps will help you get where you want, and stay there permanently. 

So cheers to being as amazing as Queen Bey this Fall, by knowing that it doesn't mean we ever have to be #flawless.

1. The quality or state of being healthy in body and mind, especially as the result of deliberate effort. 

2. An approach to healthcare that emphasizes preventing illness and prolonging life, as opposed to emphasizing treating diseases.

The Definition of Wellness on Dictonary.com.

Discover three tips to add an inch to your arm in eight weeks from Men's Fitness. 

Schedule a free coaching session to tackle a new fitness goal this month. 

It's a challenge to let ourselves slow down. 

As Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul, says, "We seem to have a complex about busyness in our culture. Most of us do have time in our days that we could devote to simple relaxation, but we convince ourselves that we don't. It seems there is always something that needs doing, always someone who needs our attention."

Moore continues, "Unfortunately, we don't get a lot of support in this culture for doing nothing. If we aren't accomplishing something, we feel that we're wasting time."

We all need time to ourselves, where no external demands are being placed on us, to recharge. How can you cultivate more time for yourself on a regular basis? 

Learn more about self-care by working with a wellness coach.

We have all been making merry for weeks. 

Schedule a free wellness coaching session to set up some new heathy habits for 2016. 

Happy new year and, ahem, welcome back to reality today. 

A big thank you to Funny or Die for the laugh as we adjust this morning to an intense case of the Mondays.

Happy New Year from Thrive Wellness Coaching

"Dwelling inwardly for extended periods, we come to know something of the poverty of always looking outside ourselves for happiness, understanding and wisdom."

From Wherever You Go There You Are by John Kabat-zinn

“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.

And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.”

― Albert Camus

Happy winter solstice from Thrive Wellness Coaching.

The holidays place many more demands on most of our schedules. This is why maintaining self-care is even more important this time of year. 

Can you squeeze some of your regular workouts back into this socially packed month?  

Do you have time on Sunday to cook healthy dinners for the workweek, buffering the cocktail party fare?

Can any shopping be done online, in a fraction of the time visiting the store would take?

Read Dr. Frank Lipman's 7 Tips for A Healthier, Happier, Low-Stress Holiday. 

Namaste!

Spices are important to cultures around the globe. They give the zest to a number of traditional dishes. Learn about popular spices in different countries and what they’re made from.

View this global spice infographic to mix it up.

Check out The Honest Company for natural personal care and cleaning products.

Studies show that healthy relationships make aging more enjoyable, lessen grief, and provide camaraderie to help you reach personal goals, among other things.

Read more about the importance of friendship.

Read the full Psychology Today article, Be a High Performer (Not a Workaholic) in 2015, for those of you looking to work SMARTER, instead of harder and/or longer this year. 

The full piece provides practical advice to work smarter, rather than harder, with these four key shifts:

1. "High performers are proactive in creating their own value. Workaholics are reactive, thereby allow others to determine their value."
2. "High performers give 100% at the right time. Workaholics give 110% all of the time."
3. "High performers take the initiative every workday. Workaholics are reactive to whatever the workday tosses them."
4. "High performers put themselves first."

"According to researchers at Eastern Washington University, people who experience the most gratitude tend to:

1. Feel a sense of abundance in their lives
   
2. Appreciate the contributions of others to their well-being
   
3. Recognize and enjoy life's small pleasures
   
4. Acknowledge the importance of experiencing and expressing gratitude.

Whether or not these attitudes come to you naturally, paying attention to life's positives can train you to see more and more of them, which will help you learn to be more grateful. 


Acknowledging [things you are grateful for] —on paper, with words, or even in your thoughts—will help you cultivate an attitude of gratitude—and with it, a boost in happiness that will last year-round." 

Read more about cultivating gratitude.

Living in a way that is authentic to yourself and your personality strengths plays a large role in overall happiness and wellness. 

So where do you start? The VIA Institute is a nonprofit that offers a free online character strength survey, as well as resources related to making the most of your results. 

According to VIA, “Research shows that knowing and applying our unique character strength profile increases our life satisfaction and well-being. [The institute provides] simple and effective tools for each of us to learn more about ourselves and our personalized pathways to happiness. Developing your character strengths can have a significant impact on quality of life, as well as a positive effect on relationships, careers and personal growth.” 

The VIA Survey takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and only requires basic personal contact information so you may receive your results. 

Launch your personalized survey from the VIA Survey webpage.