Changing your life in 2017 for the better.

The new year is a great way (or excuse) to rethink our lives and plan for a better year. Now that 2016 has passed and 2017 is upon us, articles on New Year's Resolutions and how to maintain them are being published in numerous news outlets online. This blogpost is focusing on the article published by The Guardian by author Gretchen Rubin, who has published several books focusing on mindfulness and positive living, such as her book "The Happiness Project" which is a NY Times bestseller.

This article focuses mainly on habits and that if we change out habits for the better we can ultimately lead better lives. It states that "we repeat about 40% of our behaviour almost daily", which is a very interesting statistic as it supports the notion that we are creatures of habit and that in order to improve our lives we must first focus on what we do on a day-to-day basis.

Another interesting part about this article is that it states that in order to maintain your New Year's Resolutions, it is fundamental to "tailor habits to suit ourselves". This article points out that everyone is different, and habits that may work for one person may not work for another. For example, the article mentions that some people operate more efficiently if they are given "cheats" in moderation and allow themselves a small treat once in a while. However there are also some people that find it easier to "abstain altogether from a temptation". It all depends on personal preference and what works for each person.

Rubin also identifies "four types of habit natures", which I found very helpful for improving my understanding on how I can live a more productive life. These four frameworks, which she labels the "Four Tendencies" framework include the upholders, questioners, obligers and rebels. Within each category she identifies ways in which these four frameworks respond to expectations. For example, the 'rebels' are people who "resist all expectations", and "in order to stick to a habit, they need choice and freedom."

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this article as it definitely applies to my life. As someone who is about to complete their final year of school, I need to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle in order to reach my goals.

The complete article can be read here: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/29/old-habits-hard-new-year-resolution-personality-succeed