New Year’s Intentions & Future Goals via. The Pacific Standard | www.thepacificstandard.com

This post has been sponsored by Del Monte® . All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Starting a new year can come with a mix of emotions. On one hand, it’s a brand new start, on the other, it’s a chance to reflect on the previous year and see how we can make improvements to our lifestyle. I’ve never been a huge fan of setting unrealistic goals or lofty intentions, but I am one to set changes in motion to promote a more fulfilling and well-rounded life. In today's post I'm sharing tips on how to make simple changes to your daily routine, like starting your day with Del Monte® Fruit & Oats™! Before jumping in, I first want to say that, in my experience, implementing small changes throughout your day can result in larger results. So why not focus on the now and put these tips into action?

Prepare for the future

I’m sure most of us were told to, “plan for your future,” whilst growing up. For some reason, it’s just one of those statements that continues to ring true throughout our lives. We’re constantly saving for the next purchase, or preparing to ask for a raise, or in my case planning for a baby! As a soon-to-be mom, I often feel like I’m flooded with advice with how I can get prepared for my little one. In all honesty, I’m not sure that I’ll ever be 100% prepared—and that's OK! What I can focus on is things I can do now to keep one step ahead of our new arrival.

Small things we’ve begun to do in our daily routine is set a schedule with how we’ll handle a little one in our home. We’ve started to transform our office into a nursery, having our guest room share a space with a smaller office set-up. It will make all the difference to have a designated space for our baby that is ready when she arrives.

Snacking Shouldn’t Be Discouraged

Staying healthy and active helps keep my mind and body focused without feeling like I’m overdoing it. I’ve changed my eating habits to accommodate for cravings and have even adjusted my eating schedule to accommodate more small meals throughout the day. With this new change, I am often reaching for satisfying snacks in the mid-morning—like Del Monte® Fruit & Oats™. During this time of year, I prefer to heat the Pear Maple flavor but you could also enjoy it cold. Each ready-to-eat oatmeal has fruit, that’s one full serving of fruit*, plus 20g of whole grains per serving!

Having a morning snack like Del Monte® Fruit & Oats™ packed with 20g of whole grains per serving will be much more fulfilling and lend itself to further healthy choices. If you happen to be someone who commutes for work, you could also pack snacks rich in whole grains to avoid sugary finds. Should you be looking for something to satisfy a sweet tooth, I would suggest opting for fruit options such as Del Monte® Fruit Refreshers®. These delicious fruit snacks feature unexpected flavors and exciting fruit combinations in refreshing fruit waters, and each cup provides a full serving of fruit and are all 100 calories or less.

Set a Routine that Keeps you Active

Being a freelancer, I’m fortunate to be able to work from home, but this has its downsides, too. Rather than having to commute or walk around an office, I’m stationary for a majority of the afternoon. To keep myself from sitting still for too long, I work by a schedule that allows for breaks. During this time, I take our puppy, Sampson, for a walk in our neighborhood. Not only does this get me moving, but it also allows me to take my mind off work for a brief while. I try and do this twice a day—once in the morning and another in the afternoon.

Change your Mindset

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to change your mindset to reflect more self-positivity. Working in a business where you are your own boss, it can be difficult to get into routine of knowing what to tackle first. Because of this, getting overwhelmed or feeling stuck are common. For me, I prioritize daily tasks first to help streamline my mornings and afternoon. The consistency helps me map out my day while also staying on top of deadlines or pending emails. Some things that have helped stay organized (and thus clear-headed) are time cubes, setting daily reminders, and the tips shared above.

You can add Del Monte Fruit & Oats to your new year’s routine! You can find a variety of flavors and variations in the fruit snack aisle! Save $0.75 on a one-pack of Del Monte Fruit & Oats. Link here. I’d love to hear your tricks for setting (and achieving) your new year’s goals. Be sure to share them with me in the comments below, and I will post some of them in a post in the coming weeks!