Here you are again, jotting down your New Year's resolution with a sunny disposition that could rival the clear December sky. Before making a new list, have you ever analyzed where you've been failing? You may need a weight loss program with an achievable goal. Without identifying the problems, you never attain your desired savings level. Perhaps the biggest hindrance in your “better me” plan is your lack of time for various aspects of your life.
For 2018, live in a condo for rent to allow time for fitness, relaxation exercises, and socializing. A condo community has lifestyle amenities such as a gym and lap pool. Homeowners and tenants can also use the clubhouse or function hall for family gatherings and barkada get-togethers.
Here are some of the most popular entries in New Year's resolutions and how to achieve them in your condo.
#1: Lose extra pounds
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Weight loss is a favorite New Year's resolution mainly because it's the toughest to achieve. The problem truly lies on the arbitrary target and misconceptions about weight loss. First, know the appropriate weight for your height and built. You can consult a BMI chart for this. For a more accurate info, visit your doctor.
Set obtainable goals. For an instance, if you need to lose 20 pounds, you can aim to lose four pounds per month for the next five months. Keep a journal of your weight readings to track your success.
#2: Maintain a healthy weight
The truth is, it's easy to lose extra pounds but it's hard to maintain a healthy weight. Simply avoiding white rice and meat for a week can do wonders to your body. But without a doable fitness plan, you're likely to earn back (and earn more) lost pounds.
Cutting your sugar and trans fat consumption is just part of the solution. You need to have a fitness plan. The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends the following for healthy adults:
- At least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise per week, or a combination of both; and
- Strength training exercises for all major muscle groups at least twice a week
“You can achieve more health benefits, including increased weight loss, if you ramp up your exercise to 300 minutes per week,” Mayo Clinic advises.
#3: Shift to a healthy diet
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Never skip a meal. Your body requires nourishment to function properly, and ditching breakfast can cause more harm than good. Always include in your daily meals a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. Avoid high-calorie, fatty, salty, and processed foods. You should be reminded that the World Health Organization warns that processed meat like ham and bacon causes cancer. Consider a plant-based diet.
By living in a condo for rent in Metro Manila, your daily travels could be simplified, allowing you time to cook fresh and healthy meals at home.
#4: Cut on carbs and sweetened drinks
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Contrary to popular belief, you need carbohydrates to maintain good health. The carbs from bread, pasta, beans, potatoes and cereals are sources of energy. Glucose, a form of carbs, is important for proper brain function. US health officials recommend consuming 45 to 65 percent of energy requirements from carbs with a maximum of 10 percent from glucose and simple sugars. Limit your carbs intake to 225 to 325 grams per day.
Drinking too much sweetened beverages such as soft drinks, sports and energy drinks, and dessert-coffee can increase your risk of obesity and diabetes. Opt for brewed black coffee and herbal tea. You can also shift to fresh fruit and vegetable juices that you can prepare at home.
#5: Sleep well
Adequate sleep, sadly, is much neglected in this age of constant connectivity. There's a collective illusion that to get ahead in life, one must work harder than everyone else at the expense of sleep and relaxation. If you're an adult aged 18 to 64, you should be getting 7 to 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night. Anything below or beyond that range is unhealthy.
But how can you attain healthy sleep habits if you're wasting too much time in traffic? The easiest solution is to live near in a condo community near main highways or business districts.
#6: Relax more often
Do you have home improvement resolutions for 2018? These may include ways on how to create a conducive environment for relaxation and productivity. You don't necessarily need an major home renovation. Start by decluttering your space. Then, install sufficient storage for items that add value to your life. Free up space in your bedroom because visual chaos can impact your ability to relax during stressful periods. Set up an area dedicated for work, in case you need to finish tasks at home or you're engaged in freelance part-time job. Turn your home into a place where you love to spend time.
#7: Save up
If your bank account keeps on hitting the minimum deposit limit, your finances needs fixing—fast. Independent living means that you're taking responsibility of your finances. Stop calling your money hotlines, or your parents, everytime you're short in cash. Having this sort of lifeline isn't helping you manage your money well.
Make it a point to set aside at least 10 percent of your monthly income in a savings account. This fund is separate from your life insurance and investments. Build an emergency fund equivalent to 6 months of your monthly expenses. After securing this pot, you can then open a time deposit account for long-term savings.
#8: Invest
When's the best time invest? As soon as you have the funds to open an investment account. You don't need to win the lottery or wait until your retirement pay to start building a passive income stream. Most mutual fund companies allow you to open an account for a minimum investment of Php5,000. You can place a minimum additional investment of Php1,000 any time. You can also explore online stock investing with a minimum of Php25,000.
Before entering into any investment venture, do an extensive research on the company, the board, and management team. You can get helpful info from the SEC. When in doubt, inquire at appropriate government agencies. It pays to be vigilant.
#9: Cultivate meaningful relationships
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When was the last time you felt the urge to meet up with family and friends to spend quality time together? Social media has allowed people to be constantly updated about their social circle that face-to-face connections has become irrelevant. What else can you talk about in person? Dependence on technology is affecting human relations and increasing people's dissatisfaction with their lives.
Make an important lifestyle change in 2018. Regulate your social media usage and reconnect with the people who matter to you. Talk, laugh or cry if you must, in person. Those emojis and GIFs can never substitute hearing your best friend laugh at your jokes.
You can set a monthly brunch in your condo or an after-work basketball game with friends.
#10:Manage your stress levels better
Many people aspire to compartmentalize their lives as a way of managing stress. Their professional work is separate from their personal lives. As much as you want it, you just couldn't “be yourself” in the office. You're expected to observe decorum in professional settings. This goes without saying that your personal relations should not interfere with your professional life. Keep your worries at home.
If you need to vent out frustrations in the office, do so in a productive manner. You can channel your energy to a fitness program or a personal development pursuit. What about going back to school for your post-graduate degree? You can also try sports. More people are getting into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Take the time to shut off all the noises around you. Clear your mind. You can do regular meditative exercises in your condo space or in the SkyLounge.
Making a list of New Year's resolutions doesn't have to be a meaningless tradition. Take your goals seriously. As Bill Clinton once said, “The price of doing the same old thing is far higher than the price of change.”
