LIFESTYLE MORE IN 2024
R
outines provide us some structure and security, and we tend to like them, but they can and often do become ruts. As we approach the turn of the new year, it might be a good time to assess whether you need to add some spice to your life and ask more of 2024.
Make Plans
Half the fun of doing anything is anticipating whatever it is you plan to do, and research backs this up. According to a study by researcher Yangmei Luo and colleagues, the prefrontal cortex of the brain is activated during anticipation for positive events, and that brain activity is associated with increased levels of well-being. So when you are thinking ahead to 2024, consider making both long- and short-term plans that you find interesting, whether it’s going away for a long weekend, playing pickleball, or catching up with a friend for coffee once a month.
Practice Gratitude
Thanksgiving has passed, but gratitude is important year-round, and there are many ways to express that gratitude. Some people do it through prayer, while others choose deep breathing and other mindfulness techniques to help them focus on the things for which they are thankful. Many people like the idea of keeping a gratitude journal but find the idea of filling a notebook overwhelming. Fortunately, there are all kinds of readymade journals with prompts that don’t require extended writing time, such as The One-Minute Gratitude Journal by Brenda Nathan.
“THE GOAL IS TO BE OUTSIDE IN NATURE MOVING MY BODY.” — JENNIE MULHALL
44 Winter 2023-2024 / TodaysTransitions.com
Meet New People
It is much easier to hunker down in our homes in winter than to get out and meet new people, but doing so has vast rewards. One of the best ways to meet new people is by volunteering, as having a shared interest provides a ready-made topic of conversation. But if you are really looking to expand your friend horizons, consider attending an event hosted by Interfaith Paths to Peace. This local organization brings together people of different worldviews, religions, cultural heritages, and experiences in order to have meaningful connection and conversations, says Jud Hendrix, executive director. While this may sound a little intimidating, Jud says, “[We] are experts at curating conversations and creating spaces where you will be facilitated in your conversations.” Whether you opt to attend The Big Table, an annual event in September that is a large community potluck meal, the Peace Concert in the summer, or the weekly Wednesday Zoom meeting to discuss gun violence reduction, you’ll be expanding your understanding of your community and how you can positively impact it. The organization’s next event will be the Food Justice Summit on January 31, 2024, to learn about and discuss food security in our community.
Set Achievable, Fun Goals
Goal-setting can be really fun if we’re setting goals to do things that we enjoy. Jennie Mulhall makes it a priority to hike every Sunday during the year. “The goal is to be outside in nature moving my body,” she says. “The mental and physical benefits are a win-win.” She is willing to drive 30 minutes or less to find a place to hike and spends an hour or two outside. Melissa Weedman retired three years ago from her career as a speech therapist and says it took her a while to adjust to setting enjoyable goals that weren’t tied to a paycheck or a strict schedule. “I have really tried to get out of that ‘work/should/have to’ mentality,” she says. “I preached about being a lifelong learner my entire career, so I try to continue that now.” She joined the 52 Book Club to read 52 books over the course of a year and found, through trial and error, a great way to enjoy poetry: she reads a poem every Sunday and sits with that poem to mull it over and really consider its language and meaning.
