Kick 2023 off intentionally, without the bank:

By Nabila Mayet-Cassim

2023 is here and traditionally this time of year is made up of resolutions, becoming a “new you” and putting your best foot forward. So, the year begins, you jot down some resolutions and promise to stick to them, and off you go!

It’s not always as easy as it seems. According to a recent study, over 92% of New Years’ Resolutions fail within six weeks.

Why is this?

Mom to two girls and Operations Director at the South African Anxiety and Depression Group (SADAG); explains that we tend to set unrealistic goals that are hard to achieve. Yes, it is easy to promise to live off celery and water – but is this a realistic way to live?

Sounds pretty drab to me. The new year and all its glorious resolutions can be a stressful, anxiety-ridden time, especially for moms. The pressure to stick to a goal, or two, can be overwhelming. Chambers advises a change of language – perhaps referring to it as New Year’s Intentions.

What next?

Start with yourself first: You can’t pour from an empty cup, “If you’re not okay, you can’t look after those around you,” Chambers says.

Create a vision board: You can easily find a template online you can use, to create your vision for the new year. “You can even create a virtual vision board on Pinterest, for example.”

Ask yourself the right questions: What do you want to achieve individually or as a family? What word describes whom you want to be? What are your health expectations?

Once you have looked at your personal intentions, it may also be helpful to create intentions as a family: For example, what your health and nutrition goals are and what changes you can implement to help achieve this.

Create a go-to place to write things down - this will re-enforce your intentions – A board in the kitchen where you can write your family’s New Years’ Intentions may be helpful.

“Get into the habit of writing things down as it is a way to help us remember our tasks and you may even want to take out a day in the week, like a Sunday, to plan for the week ahead,” Chambers advises.

Prioritise your mental health: Find things that will fill your cup, that you can do for yourself to keep a healthy mental state. “And of course, the ripple effect of this is, if you’re looking after your mental health, it is a good example to your children to look after their mental health too,” she explains.

When your pennies are eating into your New Year’s intentions: The cost of living has increased, and many people are looking towards a more costefficient way of being healthier.

Corporate Nutritionist and Eat

Well Live Well (EWLW) brand ambassador Arthur Ramoroka, says that “Eating a healthy, balanced diet can be difficult with more of us living on tight budgets. Here are some shopping tips to help you stretch your rand further, as well as some low-cost nutritious foods, Planning meals and creating a shopping list before going grocery shopping is critical. You can also go through your pantry, cupboards, fridge, or freezer and list the foods on hand, to use in your meal planning. Planning can help us avoid the temptation to buy unnecessary items, reduce waste and save money.

Look for special deals on long-shelflife products such as dry, canned, or frozen foods.

Not everyone has access to a vegetable garden or has a chance to buy fresh produce daily. We often need to make do with what is available and within our means when we do our shopping.

After all, food should bring joy and help us to live our best lives. The goal is to be healthy and happy, and that’s what we hope 2023 will bring.

Take care of yourself. Set your intentions. Plan. Prioritise your mental health. Stick to a budget.

With that said, Here’s to health and happiness in 2023!