The new year is a wonderful time for a fresh start, and our Cypress Lawn staff members, along with our neighbors in San Francisco, love ringing in January with a list of resolutions. Setting intentions for the future provides clarity and motivation around our goals for the future. From eating healthier to traveling more to spending less time on social media to preplanning a funeral—the options for New Year’s resolutions abound.

Here are some of our staff’s favorite things to add to a New Year’s resolutions list:

Embrace intuitive eating.

Diet culture can leave many of us feeling unsatisfied and attached to unrealistic beauty standards. Intuitive eating is a practice that approaches food from a more mindful, relaxed place. It encourages listening to your body and acknowledging how you feel before and after eating. The goal of intuitive eating is to enjoy food in moderation and feel better about your nutrition and health overall.

Read one book a month.

Reading has been shown to decrease stress, lower blood pressure, and improve concentration and memory. With all the time we spend on screens, opening a physical book, especially before bed, can have a calming effect. This year consider setting an achievable reading goal, such as completing one new book every month. Choose books in genres you enjoy, from fantasy to historical fiction to self-help.

Commit to taking the stairs.

Taking the stairs at the office, the mall, or your apartment building is an easy way to squeeze in some cardio throughout the day. If your energy flags in the afternoon, a quick run up and down the stairs can have an energizing effect on your body and mind. If you don’t have stairs at home or where you work, visit a nearby park or pop into a multilevel library to get your steps in.

Preplan your funeral.

Planning a funeral in advance provides clarity and peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Preplanning removes the burden of difficult decision-making from your family’s shoulders. When you preplan, you can make all the key service decisions at your own pace and even prepay for your services to safeguard yourself from rising funeral costs.

We want to wish everyone luck when it comes to sticking with their New Year’s resolutions. Contact our staff to learn more about preplanning a funeral or cremation with us. We are committed to helping families in the Bay Area prepare for the future so they can spend quality time with their loved ones.