Year in Review + How to Make 2019 The Best Year Ever

Hey Guys! I'm ending this year on a high note with a new season of The Fit Habit Podcast. Season 2 will dive into a lot of nutrition strategies and workout support, but I also want to focus on being more intentional about life choices around happiness. I have so much on my heart I want to share with you guys and I think there's a lot we can be doing (and not doing) to improve the quality of our lives.

This first episode covers off the best of 2018 - everything from my favorite workouts to recipes, shows, podcasts, blogs and more. It's a jammed packed episode and I've front-loaded it with helpful recommendations. The last half is personal stuff from my life, things that have happened to me this year, and how I'm making the best of some pretty tough events. I hope you gain some thoughtful ideas for living better from all of my stories.

Now onto the show notes!

Best of List for 2018

Best Home Workouts -Lift 4, Piyo, (both are on BeachbodyOnDemand), and Core power yoga.

Best Blogs - Broma Bakery, Peanut Butter Runner, Budgets Are Sexy

Best Personal Development - Insight timer app, Girl Wash your Face, Manifesting Your Greatest Self

Best Fitness Purchase - Wahoo heart rate monitor & Fitbit

Best Foods - cauliflower everything (gnocchi, rice, pizza, stuffing)

Best Instagram - The Lemon Bowl, Carrots n Cake, Paleomg, Fit Foodie Finds, Walter Geofery the Frenchie

Best Podcast - Brooke Castillo, Food Blogger Pro, Chopped, Mr. Worldwide, and His Bride

Best Leggings and Sports Bras - Leggings - Forever 21, Zella and American Eagle. Bras - Lulu & forever 21.

Best Recipe - Paleo Pumpkin Bread

Best Shows - Americans, Man in the High Castle, Stranger Things

Best Trips - Cabo & Palm Springs

Best Discovery - Tapping - emotional freedom technique

Best Decision - To follow my heart inner voice, No more FIRE

Best Realization - Life is short, invest in experiences, no more fire, do what you love, love your peeps

How to Plan For More Happiness in 2019

I heard two great ideas I wanted to share from other podcasts that I listen to.  First off, from Fed + Fit, Casey Joy suggests that rather than making arbitrary resolutions that may or may not move your happiness dial much, instead ask yourself - what would make 2019 the best year ever?  Maybe that's better health, deeper connections or a huge boost in your business.  Think bigger about your life, then consider the changes you can make to support that overarching goal.

Tim Ferris also had a great idea.  Pull out your calendar from last year and go through each month.  On a piece of paper, make two columns - name one Postive and the other, Negative.  As you go through your calendar, list people, activities and events that fall under each category.  When you're done, make a point to immediately start plotting positives in your 2019, and intentionally work to reduce the negative ones.  It sounds super simple, but it's a great way to think about your life in retrospect and how you want to use it to shape your future.

That's it from me for the year!  Signing off and wishing you the very best for the year ahead.

Here's to a healthy, happy, and intentional 2019.

xo Caren