Eight pro tips from Irish experts to make positive changes in your life in 2024
Eight pro tips to making positive changes in your life in 2024
Focus on your everyday habits rather than an end goal, says Louise.
“Start small with your habits; this allows for an element of change in a gradual way. Just telling yourself you want to drop half a stone is far less effective than telling yourself you are going to start going to the gym three times a week and actually implementing it. It’s very important to have a goal but it can’t be achieved without building the habits first. Get excited about the daily tasks. And if you’re struggling to create those healthy habits, try ‘habit stacking’ where you pair something you enjoy with a more difficult task, for example, listening to your favourite podcast or playlist while preparing your meals or doing cardio.”
One small thing you can do to start your health journey is to drink a glass of water very first thing in the morning, says Nichola.
“When we wake up our bodies are naturally dehydrated because while we’ve been sleeping our system has been busy detoxing all our bodily systems. By drinking water on an empty stomach, we can help to flush out the toxins we’ve accumulated overnight. Most of us reach for tea or coffee in the morning, which means we are dehydrating the body further. If you start with 250mls of water before your caffeine you will hydrate, and kick-start your body. Start with 250mls of plain water, and as you incorporate this daily habit you can start to add lemon to it. There are so many benefits of drinking water; it supports your weight loss goals, improves your mood and boosts your energy.”
Each skincare product you invest in should have an earned place in your routine, but one product stands out, says Jennifer.
“Use retinol – it truly is a game changer! It’s the rockstar of ingredients and will transform your skin; just this one product, used five times a week. Because it can make your skin more sensitive to sun, be sure to use at night, and always wear sunscreen in the daytime to adequately protect your skin.”
If your home is disorganised it’s easy to become overwhelmed, says Talathy.
“That’s why you need to start small. Start with a bedside table or your tupperware drawer, and get the win. That small victory will spur you on to the other bedside drawer, and so on. A practical tip is to set a timer for 10 or 20 minutes and see how much you can do in that time. If you’re decluttering in the new year, start with the easy, non-sentimental stuff. Look at your spice rack, or your bathroom. These will be easier to declutter than your wardrobe. It’s all about changing those habits.”
The quality of our relationships determine the quality of our lives, says Lisa.
“So many of us are out looking for love, but we don’t love ourselves. In loving yourself, you will believe you are worth more, you are worth a wonderful relationship. With a better sense of self you can see quickly how a relationship makes you feel. And if you’re in a relationship, you need to work at it all the time. Be aware of conflict triggers, love language (how you and your partner feel loved), your argument style. Knowing these things leads to better communication, and faster resolution of any issues.”
Parenting isn't about children; it's about parents and how they respond to their children, explains Bethan.
“Children don't learn how to be resilient from books, TV, worksheets or anywhere else; they learn it from their parents. Resilience is the ability to get through something, to be ok with all the parts of who you are, and that's about how children's emotional and behavioural development is responded to in the relationship a parent has with them. So that thing that you'd love your child to change, you need to change it in you first so you can then help them.”
Goal setting is a powerful tool for personal growth; it provides us with a sense of direction and purpose, says Elaine.
“When setting goals, you should ask where are they coming from: your ego or your essence? Ego is always looking for approval, wondering if we’re good enough. Essence is based on self-acceptance, and trusting yourself and your choices. Finding the sweet spot between these two energies is a challenge. Spend time on goal setting that incorporates visualisation, positive affirmations, and journaling, this can help you to stay true to your unique perspectives.”
If you want your life to change, you need to be brave enough to make that change yourself, explains Sinéad.
“Change and growing is difficult. It’s often easier to stay in your comfort zone, and some people will want to keep you there too. But you need to be the catalyst for your own change. Take the leap. You will outgrow some people if you make changes and that can be scary, but you will meet others along the way. The bottom line is to focus on yourself and what you want from your life, and not what others want for you.” The new year is traditionally the time of year that we re-evaluate our lives and look to make changes. As we’ve seen from our expert tips, not all changes have to be huge to make an impact. Subtle tweaks, and building habits can lead to more lasting change.
Don’t rush change either. You want this to work, so take your time - you don’t need to hit the ground running (literally or figuratively) in the new year. Get prepped and remove any obstacles. Only start when you feel ready.
Although all our expert tips are focused on different areas, there is one overarching message: the power to make any changes in your life lies with you.
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