As you usher in 2019, you’re ready to welcome a brand-new you. A new year is a great time for new beginnings, but in truth, New Year’s resolutions rarely stick. A third of us break our resolutions by February, and by July more than half of us are back to our old ways. Are we really destined to repeat the mistakes of the past in 2019? Not at all! Follow these simple tips, and 2019 can be the year you say hello to a new and improved you.
Limit Yourself to One Weekly Shopping Trip
Americans visit a grocery store an average of 1.5 times a week, typically spending 41 minutes in the store each time. That means many of us make multiple supermarket trips every week, spending a lot of time browsing those aisles once we’re there. You should know by now you never visit a grocery store to get just a few things. No matter how little you intend to buy, there are always items tempting you to take them home.
The best way to resist the temptation is by simply avoiding it. Make just one shopping trip every week. You’ll find that you can almost always make do without anything you forget until the next week. You’ll spend less on impulse buys and gas, which should make your bank balance much healthier. You’ll also have more time for healthy activities such as hitting the gym or joining a yoga class.
Start Meal Planning
Sticking to a single grocery trip is easier when you know what you’ll eat each week. Meal planning can improve several facets of your life. You’ll stop wasting money on food that spoils because you’ll know what you need to buy. Planning nutritious home-cooked meals can help you resist the lure of the drive-through. Putting together a meal plan doesn’t need to be time-consuming. Just follow one of the many blogs posting meal plans each week! In fact, meal planning helps you reclaim that time you waste staring into the fridge looking for inspiration!
If you feel pressed for time during the week, look for meals containing elements that can be prepared in advance on the weekend. You’ll be surprised how much time cutting veggies or making sauces in advance can save you.
Stick to an HVAC Maintenance Schedule
Household maintenance doesn’t need to take a lot of effort. Most important jobs can be done by the professionals; you only need to make a phone call! Your HVAC maintenance schedule is arguably the most important, as it can really impact your physical and financial health.
Poorly maintained HVAC systems can’t properly filter airborne dust, debris, chemicals, bacteria, pollen, pet dander, and other allergens. Neglected HVAC systems can trigger fatigue, flu-like illnesses, and allergy symptoms, as well as make symptoms of respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease much worse. Unloved HVAC systems also have to work much harder, so they cost you more money in the long run. Book an HVAC preventative maintenance appointment every six to 12 months, depending on your system, to enjoy a new lease on life.
Don’t set yourself impossible goals in 2019. Instead, make simple changes to improve your life in the new year and beyond.
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