At the beginning of 2019, my overall plan for the year is to create nice memories with my family and friends, to stay healthy, and to enjoy life. I have nineteen specific goals and group them in three categories: Family & Friends (five goals), Health (six goals), and Leisure (eight goals).
We’re now in the second week of December. I’m gently wrapping up the year 2019, starting with a review of my six Health goals in this post. They were on my Blogger blog so I’m copying them over in a table format and adding my results next to each goal.
Health Goals in 2019
| Goal | Results |
| Meditate 15 minutes daily | Done daily. Meditation clears my mind and sets a positive tone for the day. |
| Find humour to smile or laugh daily | Done daily. 2019 has been an amazing year for me and I find it easy to smile or laugh. |
| Walk 6x/ week, 45 minutes each time | Done and some more. I continue to live a car-free lifestyle. I’ve been walking longer distance in the Fall. |
| Strength workouts 3x/ week, 1 hour each time | Done consistently. I feel fit and healthy. The exercises improve my balance, focus, stamina, and strength. |
| Yoga 2x/ week, 1 hour each time | Done consistently. My body is flexible and I can do a range of motions without pain or difficulty. The deep breathing practice helps me sleep well. |
| Swim 1x/ week, 1 hour | Done consistently. Swimming relaxes me and builds endurance at the same time. |
What Went Well?
I’m committed to maintaining good health and as such I’ve designed my health routine to suit me. Here’s what went well:
1) Enjoyment: I choose activities that I like and that I can do year-round. This increases the chance that I look forward to doing them, and I can do them regularly without any significant gap.
2) Variety: I have six activities and goals for each. I do a different set of activities each day and make changes to keep the routine fresh and engaging. My yoga instructor also delivers a unique class every time.
3) A mix of structure and flexibility: The structured activities are my yoga class which is on Tuesday and Thursday, from 9 to 10 AM. The remaining activities are on my own time although I usually complete them in the morning.
4) A mix of group and solo activities: In my yoga class, we have anywhere from 12 to 22 participants in each class. My other health activities are solo although I do work out in the gym with one of my friends every few weeks and I do see other people in the gym and at the pool.
5) Self-care time: Some of my walks are with my family or friends. The rest of my health activities are by myself (gym, meditate, swim, walk) or in a class (yoga) so I have that time just for me.
Where does all this lead?
Life Quality: I’d say my life quality is excellent this year. I’ve enjoyed several health activities, a variety of leisure pursuits, and frequent travels. I’ve made new friends from my yoga class, as well as through blogging, and travelling.
Gratitude: I’m very thankful for having my good health. It enables me to enjoy life with my family and friends. I can be of help to them when needed.
My thank-you to everyone who has participated and/ or supported the Wellness Wednesday link-up with your comments. I also want to thank Leslie for joining me on this journey and for setting up the monthly link-up codes.
What went well health-wise in 2019 for you? Would you do anything differently in the New Year? I’d love to hear your comments.
Click here to join in the last Wellness Wednesday link-up of 2019. I look forward to continuing our blogging connections with you all.
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Natalie the Explorer 
I love your health goals, Natalie. the fact that you include laughing and smiling tells me that you are on the right track. We should enjoy being healthy. You have a wide range of activities and practice consistently – way to go! I think I should add your #1 to my list of activities. I have meditated from time to time but find it difficult to maintain a consistent practice.
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Thank you, Laurie, for your encouraging words. I started meditation with a small amount of time and increased by minutes. With practice, it gets easier and becomes more relaxing to do.
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Wow, Natalie, I’m impressed. Your accomplishments are inspirational to me. Especially as I wind up the year, kind of wondering to myself, “WTH, WDIG!” Way to go, I hope you’re able to continue on with what works so well for you.
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Thank you, Shelley, for your kind comment. The year goes by fast, doesn’t it? I plan to continue with my health activities in the new year.
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You’re welcome. Yes, it sure does. I think you’re on the right track to continue and build upon your successes of 2019.
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Your stick-to-it-ness is inspiring. I have struggled in years past to achieve all the goals that I set out at the end of the year. I seem to have the most success when I am singled focused on one goal, but you’ve given me the inspiration to add a few more to my list next year. You certainly have much to be grateful for this year! May you have a blessed 2020.
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Hi Lisa – Our health is one of the most precious things to have so I’m committed to maintain my good health. I start small and once the health activities become habitual, I add incremental challenges. Thank you for your warm wishes. May your 2020 be bright and rewarding!
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In a world where most of us abandon our new year’s resolutions by February, you did fantastic! I think the key is to make the types of goals that bring us joy… and it sounds like you did… and they did.
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Thank you, Janis, for your encouraging words. I agree with you that it’s key to make the types of goals that bring us joy. When we do that, we look forward to completing them.
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I didn’t have any wellness goals – which is a good thing as I would have failed parlously! I do need to set some – or at least make more of an effort next year. Or… next week. (Or even tomorrow!)
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I think when it comes to our health, the earlier we start taking care of it, the better it is. Pick something you enjoy so it doesn’t feel like a chore.
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Natalie, we did it!! Another year of improved health and quality of life. Thank you for inspiring me by suggesting this series and then cheering me along on my progress. Hope you will continue with Wellness Wednesday and your prompts into 2020. I would be delighted to join you each month. I can thank you for my improved health and happier lifestyle and my paid off credit cards.
So proud of your accomplishments. You always amaze me with your fitness routine, your commitment to a car-free life. Glad that you have incorporated more laughter into your life. We should all aspire to that.
Thank you again, my friend!
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Leslie, we did it well! Thank you for your friendship all this time. I’m proud of your health achievements, too. Have a wonderful December!
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You certainly do seem to have had a fabulous 2019 Natalie, with a good balance of activities that all enhance your health and wellbeing. Well done you! I’m sure your 2020 will be more of the same. xo #TeamLovinLife
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Thank you, Min, for your kind comment. When we have good health, we have good wealth.
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Natalie, I agree with the approach of starting small and increasing the time or challenge in small increments. I find that sometimes my goals interfere with each other. For example, having lots of houseguests, looking after my grandchildren, and trying to write a novel in a month all interfered with my taking a daily walk. The good thing is, it is easy enough to increase the frequency and length of my walks again once the other commitments subside.
Jude
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Hi Jude – I find starting small and increasing in small increments work much better than the big bang approach when it comes to exercising. Sometimes when other commitments get in the way, I’d be kind to myself and resume my exercises as soon as I’m able to do so. There is no need to beat up ourselves or get stressed out.
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2019 was pretty much the opposite for me! I was unable to exercise much due to pain from an injury and I can feel what a detrimental effect it has had on my body. Not much I can do about it but keep working on rehabilitation and work my way up slowly and carefully to where I was.
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I’m sorry to hear you had an injury and experienced pain Vanessa. I hope rehabilitation helps you. Your approach to work your way up slowly and carefully sounds wise.
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Natalie, congratulating on setting and reaching your health goals for the year! I continued with the same ones I’ve had for a long time: 6-teaspoons-a-day sugar limit and 16:8 intermittent fasting and daily exercise. All things I will do for the rest of my life. Might add a few tweaks this year. Thanks for the inspiring and uplifting post! #SeniSal
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Thank you, Jean, for your kind comment. Good for you for having chosen a healthy lifestyle. A few tweaks would keep things fresh. I’m thinking of trying at least one new fitness activity in the new year, too.
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What a wonderful achievement …a lot start with a gunho attitude and then fall by the wayside. I have continued to go to the gym not my 4-5 times a week but at least 3 times a week. daily walks with the dogs and as its heating up down here finally at least once a day a trip to the beach with the dogs. Im not writing up any NY resolutions….just continue going to the gym…having a couple of free alcohol days a week. #SeniSal
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Sounds like you’re doing very well to stay healthy. I don’t do resolutions either. Thank you for stopping by.
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You are an inspiration, Natalie. I like your word “gently” wrapping up the year. My interpretation is how you describe a philosophy of staying healthy in a realistic, yet accountable way. The self-care time really resonates with me. You are a good example of how taking care of yourself creates a ripple effect to everyone around you. I look forward to connecting with you in 2020. xx
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Thank you so much Erica/ Erika, for your kind words. I’m thankful to have the time for self-care. I believe that self-care is important for us and everyone around us. I also look forward to connecting with you in 2020. Have a wonderful December!
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