Blog #9: Good old resolutions - new goals

By Natascha de Raad
reading time: 3 Minutes

Good old resolutions - new goals 

In my latest blog post, I take a look at THE number one topic at the start of the year: good old resolutions. I'm sure many people are now thinking: "Not the same old thing again."  To get straight to the point: "As always, I don't have any good intentions." I recently read "New goals, old habits" in a commentary on the turn of the year, and that 15% of good resolutions are history after just one week. That's why I save myself the trouble and don't make any resolutions, especially not at the start of the year. How do we still manage to set targets with a long-term guarantee, regardless of New Year's Eve? - And how can we shake off cherished habits, be open to new things and still maintain a certain routine in order to stay motivated and healthy throughout the day? 

And every year the groundhog greets us... 

In the top ten good intentions, two topics take first and second place by some distance: eating healthier is top of the list, followed by the intention to do more sport. (In times of multiple crises, it is not surprising that "save more" takes the number three spot). I even agree with these basic ideas, but without reprimanding or forbidding myself. Because "hand on heart": even bans are even more tempting to break them. 

Continuously pursue goals - and be allowed to sin from time to time 

My personal keywords in life match the general tenor and are: healthy eating and sport to stay healthy, balanced and productive throughout the year. When it comes to nutrition, I'm sure many people are now thinking, "aha, another new vegan". No, I eat everything - with one exception: what I don't like, I don't have to do to my palate. It is important to me that food comes from organic farming and I know that an organic label is no guarantee of sustainable organic farming. In my experience, the safest way is to buy from farm stores or markets. As direct marketers, the producers personally vouch for the products they produce. 

Fruit and vegetables, regional and seasonal 

This brings us to the next point that plays a role in my meal plan. If possible, I only buy seasonal fruit and vegetables from the region, so no strawberries in winter and no asparagus from Peru for the Christmas dinner table. As we all know, fruit and greens are vitamin boosters and vital for our bodies. At Med-X-Press, we launched the "fruit box delivery" campaign at the workplace in November. A regional supplier provides our sites with a mix of available fruit varieties at the beginning of each month. We have received nothing but positive feedback from our employees for this free vitamin boost. 

Happy without meat? 

As already mentioned, a vegan diet is not an alternative for me, even from a sustainability perspective. But what is true for fruit and vegetables is also true for meat and sausage. Here too, I want to know where the steak, roast or liver sausage comes from. Many butchers provide information about the origin and species-appropriate husbandry of the animals and there is now also a trend for butchers to slaughter their animals themselves again, thus avoiding the slaughterhouse conditions that we know from the media. When it comes to meat and sausage products, I pay attention to how they are kept, slaughtered and processed. But I am also honest! As Head of Sales and Marketing, I travel a lot. Of course, I also make stops from time to time - and then it can be a currywurst or a burger with fries in a hurry. It's important that junk food doesn't become the norm.  From time to time, I take a phase of intermittent fasting, which I have identified as an optimal method for me. The food break combines various advantages, including the initiation of a detox process, muscle maintenance and, most importantly, the yo-yo effect. A quick word about meat: I eat a lot of fresh game from the local Harz forests, which I hunt myself, which brings me to my second focus, because hunting is also a sport. When I spend a few hours on a high seat, it's not very positive in terms of exercise. Here, as elsewhere, there are two sides to the coin. I calm down, but I'm still highly concentrated and forget all the questions that are crying out for answers in the stress of everyday life. 

Sport is not murder 

This is the quiet way to do sport, it gets more strenuous in the gym. I really push myself on the machines or on the treadmill - pushing myself to my limits to build up strength and endurance in the long term. The gym is an option, it's also possible without a lot of effort and expense. We have a cycling group at Med-X-Press that regularly undertakes rides through the region and our running team is also back at the starting line after the snow melts in the Harz Mountains. With our "in-house" physiotherapist, we will soon not only be offering individual therapies as before, but also establishing gymnastics groups at the individual locations. Because one thing is clear: most sports are more fun together and that brings me (almost) to the end of my thoughts. 

Discipline and well-being 

Two points are important to me. No matter what you do, discipline and personal well-being come first. Everyone has to decide for themselves what is right for their body and mind. You know the struggle with the inner bastard.  But believe me, it's worth winning - not only will you feel fit, you'll also be more balanced, relaxed and ready for new adventures. Success depends on the interplay between diet and exercise for physical and mental health. In the often challenging and stressful working day, it is extremely important to pause now and again and create small islands of relaxation for yourself.  Companies can actively support their employees. So everyone: no good intentions with a short half-life - but new goals with new habits! 

How do you keep your good intentions? Feel free to write to me: blog@med-x-press.de!