We've only just passed the middle of January and everywhere you look there has been talking of New Year's Resolutions, ways to improve yourself, your career, your home, in fact just about everything.
Which led us onto thinking, what was wrong with the 'old' versions of ourselves.
Full of zest for the New Year we often try to take on too much removing any enjoyment and perhaps even setting ourselves up to fail so we thought that a better approach would be to look at doing things or making improvements right from the comfort of our own home. We're thinking lifestyle changes and we're thinking success!
If it sounds like a plan to you then read on!
Tidy House, Tidy Mind
One of the biggest series' t hit Netflix and one which has generated huge attention on social media and in newspapers and magazines is Marie Kondo; Tidying Up. In short, Marie has shown us how to tidy up, declutter and organise our homes. It sounds a bit cliche but you may find that a tidy house really does result in a tidy mind giving you more space to deal with other aspects of your life.
Another popular trend is 'Hinching', here Mrs Hinch shows you how to clean your home in bite sized chunks. It means cleaning need never be done in one entire sitting, taking up an entire day and spoiling your weekend. We're certainly fans!
Let's Get Moving
If you fancy getting a little fitter this year then there is much that can be achieved at home rather than paying for expensive gym memberships. All you need is a little motivation. There are endless challenges and videos on the well-known video sharing website, or you could pop on your trainers and go for a run and walk from your front door. It's also a great way to explore where you live and get to know the people in your community. Inexpensive hand weights or resistance bands can be found in high street retailers and again there is plenty of content to guide you on how to do the exercises safely and effectively.
Home Cooked Food
You need only to flick through the TV channels or pick up a magazine to see that the trend for fresh, home cooked food is one that is huge at the moment. So if the end of last year saw you choosing ready meals, takeaways or fast food and you're finding it a habit that is hard to kick you may want to take a look at the dishes that celebrity chef Tom Kerridge is cooking up in his new show Fresh Start. He's inspiring families to choose fresh food and showing them that by the time you've waited for your oven food to warm through you could have cooked something fresh from scratch that was healthier and cost less.
Money Saving
The end of the year tends to be an expensive time for many so if saving money or managing your cash is top of your list of improvements, a night each week documenting your spend ad your cash flow can pay dividends. Also, whilst the weather is cold and the nights are dark take a look at advice from websites such as Money Saving Expert which guides you through finding the best deals for anything from mobile phone contracts to pet insurance.
New Year, New Home?
If this is the year you want to make the move to a new home, we have lots of ways to help make it simplistic and straightforward.
Our online reservation option is available on many homes across the UK allowing you to reserve your chosen home online and and then simply visit the development within 72 hours to confirm your reservation. House buying really has been made this easy!
So, whatever you fancy doing this new year make sure it's fun and something you want to do rather than should do. That way, it's more likely to be enjoyable and you're more likely to succeed.
As Socrates one said, "The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new."
Happy 2019!