As I take a break from my holiday cookie baking marathon to write this article, I can’t help but think about how delicious all the different recipes will taste! The scent of gooey butter, peanut blossom, and ginger molasses cookies (to name a few) dance around my kitchen and fill the room with their intoxicating aroma. No matter how often I tell myself to limit my consumption of these delectable treats, I also find myself saying, oh, just enjoy the holidays and worry about the calories when the season is over. What soon follows is a bit of guilt and a few lbs to burn off, which brings me to my go-to New Year’s resolutions, get fit and eat healthier. Sure there will be other areas of focus sprinkled in from year to year, but these are the two constants. It seems as if I’m not alone in these goals either. According to a poll from Statista, the top two resolutions for 2021 were to exercise more (44%) and eat healthier (42%). Below you’ll find some of the most common New Year’s resolutions and local sources to help you achieve your goal.
Get Fit
There are plenty of options for adults to get in a good workout. There are the 24 Hour Fitnesses or Orangetheory classes (to name a few), but kids don’t have the same number of opportunities available to them. If you’re looking for a place to take your little ones, try signing up for a class at The Wiggle Room or take the family to get some energy out at Kids Club Fun and Fitness. They have both classes and drop-in options over winter break and beyond. I definitely recommend checking out your local community center as well. They offer plenty of family-friendly and affordable exercise options. Some locations like East Portland Community Center even have free TeenForce passes for kids ages 10-20. It allows them to drop in during designated hours to burn off some energy using the gym facilities. It’s always important to get the kids up and moving and set them up for future healthy lifestyles.
Read More Books
Reading more is something I find myself wanting to commit to fairly often. I enjoy reading and being transported to another world. I like to step outside of my own experiences and see the world through someone else’s eyes. However, I have dropped the ball in this arena as of late. I don’t know if it’s the time wasted reading internet articles or just the business of life, but I have let this goal fall off my radar. In the past, it has helped me to read books with my family or friends. It allows us to discuss what’s going on in the story, holding us accountable. If you don’t have someone in mind to connect with in this fashion, then you can try a local book club. Multnomah County Library has groups for adults and kids alike. Click this link to find out more information regarding different reading lists and book clubs offered at your local library. Most of the sessions are meeting virtually at this time, but they still provide you and your family an opportunity to connect with people in your community for discussions about the selected topics.
Learn Something New
It is important that we as human beings continue to learn new things and grow as individuals. Whether it be trying your hand at music or taking a pottery class, it’s nice to challenge ourselves and tinker with a new skill. Luckily for us, we live in/near a city that provides an abundance of opportunities for us to do just that. You and your children can learn how to sew at the Portland Craft Bar or you can take your older kids 16+ to check out Wildcraft studio, which offers classes from oil painting to wood carving to basket weaving. On the west side, you can check out the Portland Child Art Studio which offers classes ranging from illustrating to sewing. The mission of PCAS is to support the perceptual development of children through artistic learning. These are only a few options found locally.
Save Money/Spend Less
Another area people tend to rethink as they start a new year is their finances. I don’t know if it’s because we overspend during the holidays or just see the need to reset in the new year, but financial wellness seems to also be on the list of things people target in their resolutions. OnPoint Community Credit Union offers financial education courses that you can take to help you become more informed as you pass the knowledge on to your kids. There are also courses in which kids can handle themselves. One such provider is MoneyTime. These are just a few resources that can help you teach yourself and your children about how best to manage money.
No matter your resolution, just do the best you can and try to find people and resources that can help you reach your goals.
Angela lives in SE Portland with her husband, four kids and their dog. She views parenting as one of the most challenging yet rewarding parts of her life. Her kids range in age from six to fourteen and each one shines in their own unique way. She enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as staying active! She likes attending local events and exploring the culinary scene in Portland. She’s a self proclaimed foodie who admittedly needs help mastering proteins but claims to make a mean chocolate chip cookie. Some of her favorite activities include spending time in nature, playing soccer, reading, camping, hiking and just hanging with the fam! She sees each day as an opportunity to start fresh and learn something new.