Savvy Resolutions

This year, we decided to tackle the topic of New Year’s resolutions with some real experts. We asked ourselves if we were a nutritionist, or a finance expert or a family therapist, what would we resolve to do this year?

All of our esteemed experts came back with different approaches to making resolutions but with one common thread. The theme of finding time, balance and connections (in real life) seemed to be a priority.

Here is what they shared with us.

Ann Douglas, author of numerous books about pregnancy and parenting, including The Mother of All Toddler Books and The Mother of All Parenting Books:

• Messages on Facebook are no substitute for face-to-face conversations. I want to challenge myself to connect with family and friends more often and in more meaningful ways.
• I have a fabulous new treadmill. I need to use it more often. It’s that simple.
• Taking on writing projects that force me to step outside my comfort zone as a writer and finding new ways to connect with others who share my passions for social justice and democracy.
• Finding creative ways to showcase family memorabilia and other items that really matter to me.

Julie Freedman Smith and Gail Bell, parenting experts who provide tools for real life parenting through their company, Parenting Power™:

“We both believe in the importance of asking ourselves weekly “What am I doing for my kids they could be doing for themselves?”. Our goal is not to load them up with more stuff to do, but to be very aware, logical and thoughtful in supporting and establishing an environment and expectations where children feel confident and capable in themselves.”

Theresa Albert, nutritionist and the respected author of two books: Cook Once a Week, Eat Well Every Day and Ace Your Health, 52 Ways to Stack Your Deck:

“My resolution is to be more effective with my time. I am lucky enough to have fun and sparkly ways to spend my hours that can end up straining my days. I do start early and work hard on my work, exercise and health so feel justified in taking a few hours out for lunch or accepting an evening of drinks (sometimes two or three in a row). The trouble is that I don’t keep track of these competing priorities well, so I am not sure that they are always in balance. Like anything, a few weeks of tracking and a good honest look at the whole picture will let me know where (or if) I am going awry.”

Kathy Buckworth, Funny Mommy and author of many books, including her latest, Shut Up and Eat: Tales of Chicken, Children and Chardonnay, which is available in bookstores everywhere:

“I don’t typically like resolutions but if I had to make one, then it would be this: achieve the work/life blend by prioritizing the things that are important, and not apologizing for not spending time on the things that aren’t.”

Golden Girl Finance, a thoroughly modern, free online financial resource for women in Canada today:

• Take more time to actually be in the moment and enjoy our beautiful daughters (rather than trying to do a million other things at the same time).
• Get more sleep! Working until 3 am and up early with children does not a healthy mommy make!”

Alyson Shafer, psychotherapist and best-selling author of Honey, I Wrecked the Kids and Breaking The Good Mom Myth:

“Firstly, I don’t make resolutions as a ‘rule’ but I do celebrate Martin Luther King Day mid-January when life has settled back down and I think about what I need to be doing to make my dreams a reality. That said, the areas I want to grow in are:

• Pushing myself to the next level in my fitness pursuits (do another try-a-triathalon).
• Maximize this last year I have at home with my two daughters before the eldest goes off to University in the fall.
• Be a better friend and neighbour. I give so much to parents across North America, but sometimes it’s the senior across the street who needs help shovelling snow that really needs my time today.”

What are your New Year’s Resolutions? Are you going to find balance in 2012?

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