The end of the calendar year is always a fitting time to think about new opportunities and new beginnings. Chances are you will consider making a New Year’s resolution in January – and that’s no coincidence!

January gets its name from the god Janus in Roman mythology. Janus is the god of gates, doorways, new beginnings, endings and time.

When a year ends and another is just beginning, people often look inward and wonder if they’ve accomplished what they’ve set out to over the past year. At this time of year, it is common to reflect on past goals and set new ones--goals like healthy eating and exercising, quitting smoking, and establishing other beneficial habits that require self-discipline.

New Year’s resolutions are usually about finding wellness, balance and being mindful of how our decisions affect others. More and more often, people are setting goals that are personally beneficial but also contribute to a healthier environment.

How do we be mindful?

Mindfulness is being actively attentive or inclined to do something. In his article The Power of Before and After: Exploring the benefits of being mindful, Jeremy McCarthy suggests training our minds to focus on anything, whether it’s the present moment or what we had for breakfast that morning:

Meditation and other mindfulness practices teach us how to focus our attention voluntarily toward what we want or value, rather than having it pulled toward what we fear or regret. This helps us to focus on the good moments from our past rather than ruminating on the bad ones. It allows us to avoid worrying about the future, and instead develop goal strategies around the things we are hoping for. The discipline around such a practice helps us to avoid unhealthy impulses and to lead a more purposeful life.

Being mindful and having the discipline to reduce indulgence can help us lead simpler lives and combat our impulse to consume. It can also help us focus on the positive actions we need to adopt to create a healthier environment for our families, friends and neighbours.

This year resolve to make the changes in your daily life that will create a healthier environment. To help get you started, check out these quick tips and articles.

Happy New Year!