Concrete Steps to Make 2023 Your Best Year Ever

“2021 was a year of tremendous stress and change, and the global pandemic has left us all in a constant state of war, flight, or freeze for almost two years,” he says. Desi Barlettis a yoga, health and wellness expert. “As we enter 2023, we have an opportunity to break out of the fight-flight-freeze cycle and start imagining our future in healthier and happier ways, both personally and in our communities.”

Read on to check out Barlett’s tips to help you start 2023 with health and happiness.

Estimate

“Instead of January 1 being all about setting impossible goals, let’s evaluate this year and look at where we stand. Get your blood tests done; get on the scales; Take a selfie with your underwear. Use the first day of the year to be truly honest about how you’re feeling and take time to evaluate. It’s not just about how you look. If you feel great in body, mind, and spirit, keep doing the same. If you think there are areas that can be improved, inspired and motivated, use the information from day one to create a plan. Let 123 history inspire action in three steps: Evaluate, plan, and execute.”

Mind

“Meditate for at least 5-10 minutes every day. Just as we brush our teeth every day for oral hygiene, meditation is like hygiene for our mind. Instead of constantly repeating old thought patterns, we start making room for something new. At the end of your meditation, take a moment to determine how you want to appear in this world, how you can serve. Studies have shown that volunteering can actually reduce stress, increase positive emotions, and release dopamine in the brain. Meditation and serving are a winning combination for the mind.”

feelings

“Really choose your tribe. It’s not just a cute word from a hipster mug, it’s something we can all do. “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with,” says Speaker Jim Rohn. It’s okay to walk away from the relationships you grew up in. Also, no one has the right to violate your boundaries or make you feel bad. If someone does this, even a family member, speak for yourself and show yourself. Your actions and the energy you put forth will attract healthier people to you.”

Body

“Get serious about lifestyle changes with exercise and food. Increased belly fat can be dangerous over time and is both preventable and reversible. Learn about macronutrients and micronutrients, what they are, and what ratios are right for your body. Get your blood tests done and look at your micronutrient levels to find out where you’re lacking and where you excel. Road test macronutrient ratios (protein/fat/carbohydrate) with an easy app on your phone. Combine your eating plan with a solid exercise routine that you really enjoy. Also, don’t forget to include rest and active recovery days in your routine.

glowing breath

“Yogis work with something called pranayama, which means life force, and we discover and nurture our life force through different breathing patterns. You can find a lot of information on the internet about different breathing patterns. One of my favorites is called skull glow breathing. With a repeated short and sharp exhalation, we pump the belly vigorously. It’s literally like drinking a double espresso – your brain and body are up and running in 30 seconds.

There is some interesting history here, it was during the hippies and Woodstock era when Yoga came to the west. Hippies were very interested in changing experiences and getting high. Drugs are not a sustainable high and can do a tremendous amount of damage. Hippies found yoga and pranayama and realized that you are literally enjoying the power of your breath and feeling happy.”