An estimated forty percent of people make New Year’s resolutions every year in an effort to improve their lives and themselves. But only 8% of people actually keep them. One of the key reasons we fail is we make huge goals instead of taking it day by day, one small victory at a time.
To aid you in keeping your New Year’s resolutions, we’ve put together a few simple ideas that we believe should be on every list as we launch into another year.
Check out these eye-friendly New Year’s resolutions to improve your vision and your life.
Eat healthy
For many of us, eating right can be a bit of a mystery—especially if you’re a college student trying to live off of noodles. Improving your physical and mental health begins with making better choices when it comes to eating. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be expensive.
- How to do it: Add some fruits and veggies to your day. Aim for (naturally) colorful food. These foods are rich in beta-carotene, flavonoids, antioxidants and a host of other nutrients that will keep you feeling your best, and boost your eyesight too.
Wear sunglasses
Get your cool on in the New Year by adding sunglasses to your everyday fashion must-haves. Exposing your eyes to UV rays has been shown to increase the rate of development for cataracts, and has been linked to macular degeneration and astigmatism. A hat can further shield your peepers and keep your skin healthy and youthful too. The National Eye Institute recommends lenses that block out 99-100% of UVA and UVB rays.
Exercise more
It’s safe to say that most resolutions probably include an emphasis on exercise, and getting more of it. Exercise is vital to your health, and we’re all for it. But in kicking off their healthy lifestyles, most people overlook the importance of exercising their eyes. Doing eye exercises can help your ocular muscles, which get strained from digital devices and near-constant use, relax so they can literally focus better on the task at hand.
- How to do it: Rolling your eyes is a super simple and effective technique for relaxation. Sit up straight and breath slowly. Relax the muscles in your eyes and face, and turn your gaze upward. Slowly direct them in a circle, bringing them all the way around 3 times. Relax them by closing your eyes. Then repeat by rolling them in the opposite direction.
Slow down
As you prepare to kick off the New Year, you’re likely already thinking of your goals and all the possibilities waiting to be experienced—and running at full speed toward 2018. Most people rarely live in the moment because we’re always expecting the next great thing. Hence, meditation is key to a healthy, vision-filled life. If you live with eye conditions like myopia or hyperopia, it can be hard to focus and see clearly. By quieting your spirit enough to sit still for a few moments everyday, you can start to clear your vision and improve your mental wellbeing.
- How to do it:Sit in a comfortable spot and clear your mind. Breathe. Focus on an object about 2 feet from you. Stare as long as you can without blinking. Your eyes may start to water. Close your eyes when you can’t keep them open any longer, and see it with your mind’s eye. When the image fades, repeat for at least 2 minutes—or up to 20. Do this daily to boost your vision, and focus.
Discover your “why”
Often we go through life living the day to day, without a reason for being or doing. Life can begin to feel like rote motions, leaving us exhausted with what feels like nothing more than the hamster wheel. If you’ve felt the effects of purposelessness in your professional or personal life, now is the best time to change your course and fill your life with vision and with your personal “why” for life. Your personal vision should look at who you want to be today and years down the road. What do you want to change? What do you want people to remember and say about you?
- How to do it:Identify what really matters to you. There’s no right answer—only yours. Make a list of categories of things that you care about, like relationships, experiences, accomplishments, etc. Identify what you want to see in each category. Then create your personal vision statement that encompasses what you’re about, who you are, and who you will continue to become.
Improve your vision
The choices you make in the New Year can help determine if your eyes will be the best they can be or struggling through another year. Resolve to take better care of your eyesight as you head out for another trip around the sun. Implementing some simple hacks into your daily routine can help you maintain your vision. But if you’re looking for long-term results, it’s vital to get regular eye exams to identify if deeper eye issues exist that could be preventing you—now or in the future—from living your best life.
Let’s head into the New Year resolving to be our best.
