Marriage after 10 weeks than couples who did the same things every week.īuy a pedometer. Based on answers to relationship tests, the couples doing new things showed far more improvement in the quality of their The other group chose newĪctivities they both enjoyed, such as going to the amusement park or taking a pottery class. One group did pleasant but familiar activities such as dinner with friends or a movie. In one study, couples were assigned a weekly date night. This may be because novelty and new experiences Sharing new experiences with your spouse appears to trigger changes in the brain that mimic the early days of being in love. At my house we’re getting two Dance Dance Revolution pads - it’sĪ game my daughter loves, and for me, it’s a way to multitask time with family and exercise.ĭo something new with your spouse. Active video games are also a good way to spend time with kids.

To work up a sweat playing tag or soccer in the yard or park. Resolving to play with your kids at least one extra day a week gives you more time with family, and depending on what you play, it can also mean more exercise. (Credit: Michael Temchine for The New York Times) “Some whole grain things just don’t taste that good.”Įxercising with your kids is a great way to multitask. “I think finding products you like is important, and often it is a process of experimentation,” she said. Once you find them, substitute them for some of the white carbohydrates you currentlyĮat. Roberts suggests finding two whole grain products you like. Or at lunch, she suggests resolving to always leave a few bites of sandwich on the plate. For instance, if you eatĪ bagel every day for breakfast, switch to whole wheat toast, suggests Dr. Focusing on one meal is easier than trying to overhaul all of your daily eating habits at once. Resolve to improve the health content of just one meal a day. When the women ate salad before the main course, they reduced their calorie intake by 12 percent without even thinking about it. Sometimes they were told to finish a salad first, and during other meals A study from Pennsylvania State University conducted an experiment during which 42 women were given pasta dinners.

Stuffing yourself with salad before every meal is a good way to cut calories. This one is a resolution twofer - it will help you halve your calories and your restaurantĪlways order salad. When eating out, resolve to split an entree with your dining partner, suggests Dr. Here are some practical resolutions that can help you lose weight, exercise more, get organized, spend more time with family and even save a little money. “Many clients make broad resolutions, but I advise them to focus the goals so that they are not overwhelmed,” said New York University nutritionist Lisa R. The typical resolution often reflects a general desire, rather than a specific goal. Real problem is that people make the wrong resolutions. Nearly 40 percent of those surveyed attribute breaking their resolutions to having too many other things to do, while 33 percent say they simply aren’t committed to the resolutions they set. Getting organized and spending more time with family The top resolutions for 2008 are the old standbys - get out of debt and save more, lose weight and exercise. That’s what time management firm FranklinCovey found when it polled more than 15,000 customers about Saving more is a common New Year’s resolution.

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