By Allya Orlov
Allya OrlovResolutions. So empowering to make them…but oh so disappointing when you fail. Let’s be honest, most, if not all of our resolutions don’t last. Instead of shooting for the stars, let’s be practical. Let’s commit to being just a tad better than last year. Here are 3 areas to focus on to make 2016 your best year ever:

Stress Less – Stress is the leading cause of all sickness. Yup, you heard that right. Finding ways to de-stress will make you happier, healthier and just a nicer person overall.

Create a schedule. Get a planner. Yes, like the one you had in high school where you kept up with your homework assignments. Scheduling time to complete your tasks can make your day more organized and less over-whelming.

Unplug. Social media/texts/calls can usually wait an hour or two. Being in the moment is what makes memories. Unplugging has been scientifically proven to remove unhealthy feelings of jealousy, envy, loneliness and combats the fear of missing out on something. Go figure.

Try guided imagery, or as I call it, meditation for dummies. It’s a proven way to turn off the constant chatter in our brains and be present. Tip: There’s thousands of clips on YouTube.

Find a hobby. Remember, those things you used to do before you had kids? Yea, let’s bring those back. It could be gardening, knitting or anything else that brings you joy.

Eat Better – Making healthy meals a priority is easier than it sounds. Taking turns with your spouse makes it that much easier to keep it up.

Slow cookers are your best friend. In fact, invite them over to dinner a few nights a week. Just make sure to avoid the cream-of_____ ingredients. Voilà – dinner is ready by the time you get home!

Instead of removing all processed foods, try swapping out a few foods at a time. Example: Organic cereal instead of sugary ones, grilled chicken instead of chicken nuggets. Slow, steady changes have been proven to be more long-lasting.

Try themed family dinner nights. Taco night, make your own pizza night, etc. It’s a great way to include more veggies and control the ingredients your family consumes. Not to mention, it’s priceless quality time with your family.

Get Active – Making a resolution to hit the gym 5x a week is a pretty good way to set yourself up for failure. Find activities your entire family will enjoy that will keep you moving. Since our beloved LA doesn’t have a “real” winter, getting outside year-round is easy!

Go for a family bike ride. It’s just fun, y’all.

Go for a hike. There’s many trails that are family friendly!

Take a walk by the beach and get some fresh air.

Take a walk around the neighborhood. Try some games like I Spy, What am I or Once Upon a Time to keep the kids from getting bored.

Allya Orlov is a Wife, Mama, Founder of Organic Life Wellness and the Founding MomMe of Club MomMe Valley.