Collin County Living Well Magazine January/February 2020 | Page 21

LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE IN 2020
H
Courtesy Preston Place
ow about some resolutions that are easy to keep
– and even fun?
We all make New Year’s resolutions each year,
with high hopes and the best intentions. Yet, we
tend to abandon them before the end of January. In fact,
a 2018 study conducted by Strava, a social network for
athletes, pinpointed January 12th as a date most often re-
ported as the day resolutions fail. The reason? We set unre-
alistic expectations for ourselves.
zens. Get involved, let your voice be heard, and help im-
prove our city, together with your neighbors. Learn more
at plano.gov.
Volunteer your time and talents
Tutor elementary school children, support your local food
pantries, clean up city spaces, or get involved with any or-
ganization or cause that means something to you. Resolve
to dedicate time each week, month, or quarter to volunteer,
and get your friends involved, too.
When it comes to goal-setting, your best chance for success
is choosing attainable goals. You also want to choose very
specific goals, and put them in writing. Map them out in a
day planner or a mobile app - whichever you prefer. When
they’re in print or on your screen, they become real.
It’s also a good idea to divide your goals into smaller steps. Rath-
er than saying, “I want to lose weight” or “I want to read more,”
try breaking your resolutions into bite-size weekly and monthly
goals. For example, “I want to lose 5 pounds this month,” or “I
want to read three books per month, instead of two.”
At independent living communities like Preston Place in Pla-
no, it’s easy to maintain your resolutions all year. Here are
a few ways you can enhance your everyday routine and
enrich your life, right here in the Plano area.
Finish your college degree, earn a master’s
or take a college class
With so many wonderful colleges and universities in our
area, it’s never too late to earn a bachelor’s degree, a mas-
ter’s degree, or take a course in a subject you’ve always
wanted to study. At Preston Place, our residents have Dallas
Baptist University just 10 minutes away, as well as Collin
College, and many more continuing education opportuni-
ties right in the Plano area. Many courses and degrees are
offered online as well, so you can learn at home.
Step outside your comfort zone
Try out for a local theater production, or use your stage
management skills to put on a Broadway-inspired produc-
tion right in your own neighborhood. Take a mixology
class, go hiking somewhere new, or even go skydiving. It’s
amazing what you can do when you resolve to step outside
your comfort zone.
Travel someplace new
If you’re a cruise person, find a destination you’ve never
been to before – and be sure to add on as many excursions
as you can. If you prefer air travel, try a new airline that
flies somewhere you’ve always wanted to see. If you usual-
ly prefer to have every day of your trip planned out, resolve
to take at least a day or two to “wing it” and go exploring
without a plan. You never know what you may experience,
or who you may meet.
Most of all, resolve to live your best life in 2020
One of the best resolutions you can make for yourself is to
enjoy life more. For each of us, that can mean something
different. Maybe it means retiring from household chores
once and for all. Maybe it means making more time for
friends, or trying new activities and returning to favorites.
Maybe it means throwing out the rulebook and seeing
where the wind takes you.
Join the Plano Senior Advisory Board What will you resolve to do this year?
Did you know? Our local Senior Advisory Board meets six
times a year to hear the concerns and ideas of our citi- Happy New Year from your friends at Preston Place.
Visit us this season to discover how you can live your best life, every season of the year.
Call 972-931-1123 to join us for an upcoming event.
COLLIN COUNTY Living Well Magazine | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020
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