Make This The Best Year Yet - Be The Best You in 2014! - Take the Balance Bar Pledge (Review & Giveaway)

Are you ready to make 2014 the best year yet?  Are you one of those people that makes a New Year’s resolution each year only to break it? Well you’re not alone! According to a recent study¹, over 40% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions each year, but only 8% actually achieve those goals.

 

Instead of making New Year's resolutions that I won't end up keeping, I vow to make better choices and lifestyle changes for myself and my family.  This year I plan to lose those last 10 pesky pounds (after losing 56 pounds in 2013), eat more fresh fruits and veggies, drink more water, and be more active!

We received Zumba Fitness and Zumba Kids for Christmas and have moved the treadmill and elliptical machine side-by-side so that we can exercise inside together when the outside weather doesn't allow.

I recently received a mixed box of the Dark Chocolate Peanut, Chocolate Mint Cookie Crunch and Yogurt Honey Peanut Balance Bars, a 2014 calendar with tips from lifestyle Guru Laurel House, and a pair of pink sport headphones from Yurbuds. 

New Year’s Resolution tips:

JANUARY

Make an “intention” board to stay motivated.

"Intentions" (rather than “resolutions”) allow you a little leniency while still holding a basic structure that helps to keep you on track to achieve your goals. Create an intention board of images and words cut from magazines that illustrate the energy behind your goals/intentions/resolutions for the year. For the tech savvy out there, go ahead and make it on Pinterest! 

FEBRUARY

Don’t let old habits derail you.

It’s time to start paying attention to your old habits and the little things that derail your progress on eating healthy in 2014. If you’re having a bad day and you usually turn to sweets to make yourself feel better, take a step back and realize how you’re handling the situation. Instead of doing something counter-productive to your goals like overeating, do something good for you like going on a brisk 20 minute walk or calling a friend to catch up. 

MARCH

Exercise to minimize your stress level.

When you exercise, your blood starts pumping faster through your veins, you take deeper, more cleansing and detoxifying breaths, and your brain releases endorphins- your body’s natural “feel good” chemicals. Not only are you achieving a goal by exercising, but you’re also making yourself feel better! 

APRIL

Spring clean your life.

Take a look at your life and see what needs cleaning! In a bad relationship or friendship? Be honest to yourself and the other person, and end the relationship. Feeling tired and drained? Look at the activities in your days and revitalize them – drink more water, change up your breakfast commit to healthy afternoon snacks like a Balance Bar® and get outside a for a few minutes each day. Don’t just clean your house or office this spring, but clean up your life too. 

MAY

Surround yourself with motivating people.

Nothing is more of a “downer” than wanting and trying to better yourself but seeking encouragement, motivation or advice from people who say "you can't." Find the "You CANs" and do what they do! 

JUNE

Better your life by making some changes.

Make a list of everything that makes you uncomfortable or annoyed like spending too much time on shopping, going out too much, not exercising, etc. Decide on a short, daily action that you can take that is exactly the opposite. You’ll make yourself feel better and make life less stressful. 

JULY

Find your passion and start living it.

Ask anyone who seems to be happy at work and they will say "I LOVE what I do!" They are passionate, enthusiastic and they have energy from living their dreams. Don't wake up 10 years from now wondering what happened to your life … start living TODAY! Try a new hobby, sign up for a new class at the gym or take a cooking class.

AUGUST

Take care of your BODY.

It's the only one you've got. Move your body in a way that helps it feel good. Anything you can do to get your heart rate up releases chemicals that just plain make you feel better. And don’t forget to feed your body the right fuel (like with a Balance Bar®!) Otherwise, no matter how much exercise you do, you will always feel drained. 

SEPTEMBER

Build your self-esteem every day.

Self-esteem is essential when it comes to your self-image, how you’re perceived and ultimately how you treat yourself. If you’re down in the dumps about yourself, do something to make you feel happy, healthy and beautiful! Identify one thing to do each day like exercise, volunteer, open the door for someone, donate money, etc. and you’ll feel much better. 

OCTOBER

MAKE time, don’t find time.

We all have busy schedules these days so it’s hard to find time to do what we want. Rather than wait for the perfect moment to exercise or for a relaxing quiet moment, make the moment! Wake up an hour early to hit the gym or go into the office early to get your work done so you can enjoy an extra 20 minutes outside at lunch. 

NOVEMBER

Get a full 8 hours.

As a culture, Americans shortchange ourselves on sleep. But not getting enough sleep doesn’t just leave you tired, it takes a toll on your skin, your stress levels and overall well-being. Shut the computer down and commit to getting at least 8 solid hours a night. Then start your day with a balanced meal like Balance Bar® and a cup of Greek yogurt with fruit. 

DECEMBER

Create a fitness bank.

Every time you don't want to workout, but do anyway, give yourself $1. Once it adds up, treat yourself to something nice like a new coat or even a nice dinner out with friends. Your hard work and motivation will benefit you in the long run in more ways than one! 

 

Be sure to check out The Balance Bar® Pledge to declare your intention to live your best 2014 and join our community of anti-resolutioners. You'll be entered for a chance to win a wellness vacation at New Life Hiking Spa in Killington, Vermont. Five lucky fans will also win a Balance Bar® 2014 calendar which features each of Laurel’s monthly tips, a case of Balance Bar® bars and Yurbuds sports headphones.

How do you plan to make 2014 the best year yet? 

 

Win It

One of Being Frugal and Making It Work’s Readers will win a 
 Mixed box of Balance Bars (Dark Chocolate Peanut, Chocolate Mint Cookie Crunch and Yogurt Honey Peanut)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway will end February 3rd at Midnight EST.

*Mandatory entry must be completed before other entries will count*

The giveaway is open to US residents only, 18 years old or older.  The winner will be chosen at random via Rafflecopter, and the winner will be notified by e-mail. Make sure to leave your e-mail, or have your contact available on your blogger profile. The winner will have 48 hours to respond, and if there is no response another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: The Being Frugal and Making it Work family received a complimentary mixed box of the Dark Chocolate Peanut, Chocolate Mint Cookie Crunch and Yogurt Honey Peanut Balance Bars, a 2014 calendar with tips from lifestyle Guru Laurel House, and a pair of pink sport headphones from Yurbuds for the purpose of writing a review and hosting a giveaway.  Regardless, I only recommend products or services I would use personally and/or believe will be a good fit for my readers.  The views and opinions expressed on this blog are based purely by our own experiences.  No monetary compensation was received.  Results may vary.  

**Being Frugal and Making it Work is not responsible for prize shipment.
 1. University of Scranton, Journal of Clinical Psychology; December 2012