December 30, 2019 – In a couple short days, we’ll be entering a brand new decade. Can you believe it? For me, 2019 was a roller coaster year and I for one am looking forward to flipping the calendar to 2020.

The past year opened my eyes wide on many things in my personal and business life. As a result, I’m going into the New Year with what I’ve deemed a crystal clear vision for the new year. Resolutions are nice, but a strategic plan seems to be a much smarter idea to me.

Since we sell a product designed to help out your health and wellness, I thought it might be advantageous to offer up some suggestions to put you on a path to a crystal clear healthier you! I’m not a health guru to be sure, but perhaps some of these could become your focus for 2020, and you’ll feel much healthier and more centered as the year progresses.

• Get more sleep. This was tops on my list this past year, and it certainly will continue to be on the top again for 2020. It’s also been everywhere I look online and in the news lately. No matter what any of us thinks, humans NEED 7-9 hours of sleep each night. This impacts our motor skills, brain functions, mood, and impacts our overall life span! Examine your sleep space and make sure you have the right pillows and mattress. Ditch electronics from your bedroom. And, consider a good long soak in a hot tub about one hour before bed! All of them will make a world of difference.
• Eat cleaner. I do feel I’ve been successful in eating better this past year. More veggies, more fruit, less processed foods, and less sweets have all become more routine for me. If you knew me, you’d know how many years it’s taken me to incorporate more fish into my diet! Well, I made some strides this year, and intend to continue the challenge for 2020. Anything you can do to inventory your eating habits and make a change towards cleaner eating will be a plus.
• Get on the move. I continue to force myself to go to the gym. Again, if you knew me, you’d know this is not one of my favorite things. But I’m trying to stick to it, and I know it’s made some changes. Work out more, walk more, take the stairs over the elevator more often, park further away in parking lots and trek to your destination a bit. They will all make a difference, get your heart exercised, and hopefully keep your joints and balance in better shape as well.
• Connect more with others. Our world continues to evolve in ways that make it incredibly easy to cut off the rest of the world. That’s not good for human beings! Connecting with other human beings is vital, and some studies conclude it’s as vital as air, food and water! Get friends together more often for dinner or just to hang out. Think about volunteering at a non-profit and get some human connection and give back at the same time.
• Get involved. Think of ways to give back to the world you live in! I’m dreading this, but 2020 is an election year. You have a voice, and you need to use it. If you’re unhappy with the way things are in our country right now, decide to get involved and make the difference you can on what will happen in November. It may seem like a herculean task, but it’s far better to have made the effort than to have done nothing at all.
• Go to a movie, go to the theater, go to a museum, go to the symphony or opera, concert or ballet! In Seattle, there is a wellspring of incredible arts and entertainment at our fingertips. Many of us do not take advantage of these wonderful events that will light up your senses, enrich your soul, and sometimes teach you a thing or two along the way. As a singing member of the Seattle Men’s Chorus for 32 years, I can tell you there is nothing better than performing to a full house. It’s a terrific way to get friends together too. I attend shows at both the Paramount & 5^th Avenue Theaters here with friends, and we’ve enjoyed some terrific traveling and local talent. The world needs art, and it needs all of us to support it as well.
• And, of course, get a hot tub! If you don’t have a hot tub, you should make 2020 the year to do it! It will help with better sleep, it will help with your overall health, it will help with connecting with your family and friends, and it will help you connect with nature and…you!

I wish all of you a wonderful start to the coming decade.