I was asked by Carusele to participate in the #SimplyNice campaign, sponsored by Walgreens. Although I have been compensated, all opinions are my own.

A new year, a renewed you. I never believe in a new you. YOU are already pretty amazing just the way you are, but the new year does give us a chance to reflect and make positive changes in our lives. Most people commit to becoming a healthier version of themselves in the upcoming year. I know I will be, it’s just a great time to refresh and focus on what you want to get out of the upcoming year. A lot can happen in a year and to help you make your healthy lifestyle changes continue far beyond January. I've got some tips for you!

Make YOU Priority

This is pretty self-explanatory, it starts off good but life usually gets busy and we don't focus as much on our healthy lifestyle goals. You MUST make it a priority. Easier said than done, right?

Time spent now figuring out what works best for YOU will help you stay on track and you will feel satisfied that you stayed with are working towards your goals. After a few weeks, your new lifestyle changes will become part of your routine and simply a part of your daily life.

It is Important to be Realistic

There’s a saying, “after all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done.” It’s really easy to tell yourself you’re going to do something and not do it. We are all guilty of this.

One reason why resolutions are so hard to follow through on is because they are glamorized, people get so caught up in the excitement of a New Year and the opportunity to transform into this entirely new and better version of themselves that the act of change itself gets forgotten. Maybe switch it up, and instead of making resolutions, set GOALS for yourself.

The “fresh slate” aspiration is all fine and well, but baby steps my friends. You still have a life, you still have a family, work, school, and commitments, you can’t just drop everything to fulfill a resolution so usually resolutions aren’t achieved. Be thoughtful, be optimistic, but also be realistic!

You Still Need to Indulge

This goes directly off my previous tip of making resolutions/goals realistic. You have to live your life. You’re committed to eating well and making good food choice. But, occasionally you want to indulge- who doesn’t? While you want that treat, you still want it to be made with the best possible ingredients.

I recommended you stock up on products from Nice! conveniently available at Walgreens. The new line of Nice! Products will help you live a balanced life and allow you to stay on track and indulge without guilt by providing great tastes you can feel good about. Plus, the upfront, labeling and the shopping convenience of Walgreens makes Nice! a win.

A few of my favorites are the light and airy Nice! organic white cheddar puffs that will melt in your mouth, Nice! premium omega-3 blend with cranberries, almonds, walnuts & pumpkin seeds with 5 grams of protein and the Nice! sea salt & caramel cheesecake cookies that are the perfect way to indulge!

Find a Partner

Pick your best friend, your sister, your spouse, your coworker, whoever you decide,

and work together to make healthy lifestyle changes in your daily lives. Make a mutual agreement to support each other, schedule regular check-ins with each other and as a team, you are on your way to reaching your goals. Together you should reflect on what is working and what isn’t and encourage each other. Having a support system with mutual goals will make you accountable and more likely to be successful, plus you’ll have fun!

I hope you incorporate these tips and cheers to you for renewing yourself in the New Year! When it comes down to it, there is no exact science to achieving and maintaining your healthy lifestyle goals. The power is within you. The previous year taught you something about yourself and your surroundings, take those lessons into the New Year and use them to grow. It’s a fresh, start but in case you didn’t notice, you’re still you, it’s not about dramatically changing who you are or the life you live, it’s about becoming a better, updated version of YOU!

Think of yourself as a great iPhone app, you’re just going through an update and when the update is done, you will be an even better app than you were before.