It’s a new year! It’s a new decade! Time to make plans! And resolutions! And goals for the next year, five years and ten years! But where to start while you are still cleaning up stray pieces of wrapping paper and ripped cardboard from the gift giving bonanza of the past weeks? These Five Ways to Reset your Life in 2020 will give you a place to begin. We challenge you to make a plan, write it down, try something new, and make 2020 your best year yet! No fear! Onward!
Fix Your Food.
Why yes, the past few weeks have been a carb fest and you have raised a glass or two. But now it’s time to reel it back in and start eating the foods that make your body feel and run the best.
Give yourself the gift of food delivery. A quick scroll through Instagram will give you tons of meal plan/food delivery options. But check out NJ Gourmet Meal Prep for delicious, accessible food options for a variety of palates and nutrition goals. Or, check out services like Purple Carrot, Sprinly or Thistle for plant-based meals delivered to your door.
Take a wholistic approach. Sometimes it’s not just the food that needs to change. It’s lifestyle, the way you talk to yourself, and the support system you have to help you along the way. For a comprehensive approach to achieving your fitness goals, the professionals at the Graf Center at Englewood Hospital or Absolute Nutrition (the very same ones who helped Jennifer Ayden from RHONJ) can work with you on a program that will get you where you want to go.
Shake Up Your Workout.
What, if anything, are you doing each week to move your body? Do you like classes? Stretching alone in your basement? A solo run or ride to clear your head? Or, are you just starting out and have no idea what kind of work out will keep you committed? Luckily, there’s no better time than now to be workout-curious in Bergen County. A few to try:
Row House in Washington Township for a great full body workout on state-of-the-art rowing machines.
Peak Performance Training for individual, small group and boot camp classes.
Ilovekickboxing for a boxing workout from pros who know what it’s like to work hard and earn the body you want.
Track Your Fitness specializes in designing programs that meet client fitness goals.
Gymguyz bring the fitness to you at your home or office.
Make time for YOU.
And if your response was, “Yeah, right.” or “Maybe someday” then you need to hear this more than anyone else. You really do need to fill your tank so you can be there for everyone else who relies on you. Why not:
Start the year with new eyes. Get gorgeous fast with new eyelashes at Supreen in Closter Plaza.
Indulge in some self-care in the comfort of your own home with these Bergen County In Home Beauty Services.
Check out these local healers who are almost magic.
Let Loose with innovative stretching and muscle manipulation in Montvale.
Run away from home to this wellness getaway in the Hamptons.
Realign your chakras and drop weight, quit smoking errr or anything at the ever popular Queen Herb and Acupuncture in Englewood Cliffs.
Learn Something New.
What’s something you’ve always wanted to try? Knitting? Pastry making? Painting? Playing an instrument? We challenge you to try it in 2020.
Give yourself a Master Class. Learn to write, cook, dance or more from the pros in your living room.
Class is in session at CourseHorse NYC. Choose from hundreds of classes held at multiple locations around the city. Bring friends and make a night of it.
Challenge yourself to read 12 Books in !2 Months. Maybe choose a theme like civics or history or romance. They don’t all have to be important books. They just have to make you feel alive. Visit the website for book recommendations and inspiration.
Pick up a pencil or a paintbrush at One River School of Art and Design. Their Adult Art Shuffle is designed for adult beginners which sounds just about right for us!
Get Your Plan for the Future In Order.
It is not fun to think about getting sick or dying. But if you don’t think about it now, your kids and other survivors could be left with a lot of paperwork and uncertainty in the event that the worst actually happens. The best thing you can do is talk to a financial advisor and/or an attorney who specializes in trusts and estates. But here are some other steps you can take:
Make a will. It doesn’t have to be complicated. You can even find templates online. But having an up-to-date will, especially when you have kids, is a no-brainer. As an aside, having an up-to-date will even if you don't have kids (or many assets) is also a no-brainer.
Designate an executor for your will and a guardian for your kids. These should not be the same people. Also, make sure the people you designate know they’ve gotten the tap. Your kids are lovely, we’re sure. But having them show up on one’s doorstep, luggage in hand, probably won’t play the same as it does in the movies.
Create trusts for your kids. Think about how you want your net worth to be distributed. Do you want to leave more for the younger children since they’ll have more schooling left? At what age should your kids have access to their trust? Should it be unlimited access or do you want a trustee to have some say in the way they spend whatever inheritance they receive?
Make sure someone has been given access to all your bank accounts. A simple trip to your bank and a signature will give your executor or other trusted associate the ability to access your accounts once you are gone.
Talk to your kids about the plan. It will not be fun. But letting them know in an age appropriate way that they will be taken care of is an important conversation to have.
We want to hear from you. What are your goals and plans for 2020? Inspire us and share your thoughts on our Bergen Mama Insiders Facebook page. Wishing you the very happiest New Year!
