Olivia Sylvia Estrada

<p>How are your new year’s resolutions? Forgive the controversial question. It’s not to shame. It’s to remind you that if you forgotten them, feel you’ve slipped up, or simply need a nudge forward, there’s still time. Eleven more months to be exact. </p><div><br/></div><p>Metro spoke with two experts, namely behavioral specialist <strong>Dr. Ann Gelvezon </strong>of <strong>Marie France</strong> and <strong>Dr. Candy Drilon-Dalman</strong> of <strong>Centro Holistico</strong> and co-founder of <strong>Pinay Girl Boss</strong>, to make sure that the 2024 can be a year of progress, without the pressure of perfection. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/7b9d1eba-557f-4b59-b167-d0680778e3a1_hillary-black-k5b_zhf5prg-unsplash.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><div><strong>It’s just a preparation phase</strong></div><p>When people suffer a hiccup on their way to their goals, miss out on a workout day, or feel they’ve messed up their momentum, there’s no reason not start over. In a different light, slipping up is simply just part of the entire process. Dr. Candy highlights,  “I think people have to realize that it&#x27;s okay to get off the rails once in a while. The important thing is to focus again, go back to your goal, and make up for it. It&#x27;s not like you&#x27;re going back to zero.”</p><div><br/></div><p>She emphasizes that if you break your streak, it doesn’t undo whatever you have accomplished so far. Life and uncontrollable things happen, so give yourself some time to reset and then get back into the swing of things again. She also candidly shares, “You can even consider January as the preparation phrase, time to recover from the holidays, in order to prepare for the real start that’s February and Chinese New Year.” </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/wellness/mind-and-spirituality/how-childhood-hobbies-make-you-a-happier-adult/37391" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How Creative Childhood Hobbies Can Help You Be a Better &amp; Happier Adult</a></div><p>Dr. Ann shares the same idea in that there is no need to measure yourself by anyone else’s standards, so you don’t have to worry about being perceived as a failure. </p><div><br/></div><p>She says, “Creating resolutions or plans to be ‘your best self’ can always be quite overwhelming. That’s a fact, but also, the whole idea of creating ‘your best self’ is very subjective.” Lifting the expectations, whether from yourself or others, and knowing that not everyone’s success looks exactly the same, makes resolutions more manageable.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Be kind to yourself</strong></div><p>Both Dr. Ann and Dr. Candy agree the biggest key and perhaps the most integral resolution you can work on is simple: Be kind to yourself.</p><div><br/></div><p>“We see how other people can be so kind to others, but not to themselves,” says Dr. Ann. When it comes to being the “best new you”, it’s not suppose to serve as platform to punish yourself. If anything, it’s to celebrate your strengths and improve on them, while approaching your weaknesses from a place of care.</p><div><br/></div><p>Dr. Candy believes that kindness is a good motivator, while self-chastising hinders you. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, because the more you are, the more you won’t be able to do it.”  </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/aff88637-3ce3-4df3-8bf0-5024ff3f4baa_hayley-murray-6lf1kzl4afy-unsplash.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><div><strong>Do away with the labels</strong></div><p>Part of being kind to yourself is erasing the notion that bad habits are signs of laziness and poor character. Bad habits are often not identified properly. They are signals to take care of your body and mind, rather than personality flaws.</p><div><br/></div><p>“Let’s do away with labels. It’s 2024. We’ve seen how mental health plays such a crucial role in our lives,” says Dr. Ann. She explains how difficulty in getting out of bed, constant fatigue, and mood swings are signs of stress and burnout. Rather than working to whip them out from your system through a rigorous routine, maybe they can point you to healthier resolutions. <a href="https://mariefrance.com.ph/" target="_blank">Marie France</a> now integrates mental health consultations as they service their clients for nutritional and body treatments to complete a well-rounded approach. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/464961f6-016d-4fbf-accb-c55cf497a95d_pexels-freestocksorg-288394.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><p>Dr. Candy adds that if you’re hesitant to go back to work after a vacation, it’s not laziness or simply “vacation hangover”. “It’s all about living the life you want and wanting to go back to it after a vacation. It’s a sign of stress if you go on a break and you don’t want go back.” </p><div><br/></div><p>“Your life should be something you enjoy, while the vacation is the dessert. <em>Pang-tanggal umay lang siya</em>.”</p><div><br/></div><p>Taking these in consideration, your best self is found not in how much work you’ve done, but how you can find healing from stress and burnout. In this way, you’re not simply measuring your accomplishments in terms of productivity, but how you prioritize yourself as well. Any success shouldn’t come at the cost of your well-being. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/wellness/mind-and-spirituality/discerning-red-flags-in-the-workplace/37327" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Discerning Red Flags in the Workplace</a></div><div><strong>Concrete steps</strong></div><p>Dr. Candy says that <a href="https://www.centroholisticoph.com/" target="_blank">Centro Holistico</a>’s consultations and life coach sessions are one of the best ways to start or reset. “Acupuncture is always good for stress and an IV Drip is a nice boost to make sure all of your systems are working,” she adds. “We also have programs to help your body to be more resilient more to stress, since it’s really part of life.” </p><div><br/></div><p>Independently, she also recommends writing down your goals on any medium that’s best for you. “Sometimes, you forget your goals. I personally like the table planner, so I can see my whole month.” </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/ae31aa34-9641-454d-80b6-e28b03879f68_content-pixie-nvzvtjn6wrg-unsplash.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><p>Dr. Candy also talks about how small steps make a big impact. “Meditation always helps, and taking a break even just 10 minutes a day is important. Additionally, waking up an hour before you truly have to get up and start your day along with having a nighttime routine help you become more effective, instead of simply rushing through your day.”</p><div><br/></div><p>On a broader scale, Dr. Ann outlines four things that help us beyond resolutions: reflecting, fostering a good support system, setting realistic expectations, and mindfulness.“Reflecting is part of self-awareness: How can we set goals before we know ourselves?,” she says. “It’s good practice to evaluate what our values are, what are our priorities are, and our non-negotiables. It’s understanding how our experiences whether positive, challenging, or difficult is an opportunity for personal development.” </p><div><br/></div><p>In looking inward, we also learn how to seek help outward. Dr Ann says, “Fostering a good support system means that no one ever heals alone. It’s important that we know when to lean on people and when to reach out. Our interactions with other people broadens our mindset.” </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/wellness/mind-and-spirituality/the-importance-of-awe/35267" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Importance of Awe</a></div><p>Setting realistic goals and mindfulness are related. “It’s about understanding your situation and knowing that it’s okay to take a break,” says Dr. Ann. She also imparts that mindfulness is focusing on the present. “It’s so easy to be caught up in the past or be very anxious about the future, so you tend to stand still and not do anything. You have to be in the now.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Last note</strong></div><p>Ultimately, whether you are declaring 2024 as your year or simply making sure it’s better than 2023, Dr. Candy reminds us to check our perspective. “When it comes success, always look inward. If you look outside, you’ll never be satisfied. If you must look out, always look for inspiration, not competition.” </p><div><br/></div>

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How to Be the Best New You, Every Month of the Year

How to Be the Best New You, Every Month of the Year

Olivia Sylvia Estrada

Published Jan 31, 2024 10:34 AM PHT

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Updated Jan 31, 2024 11:18 AM PHT

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wellness

best new you

new years resolutions

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how to not feel overwhelmed

progress over perfection

dr candy dalman

centro holistico

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