Make Lasting Lifestyle Changes

Whatever the cause (let’s say part New Year’s resolution and part quarter-life crisis) I’ve been doing a lot of introspection lately trying to pinpoint areas where I can better myself. What I keep circling back to is the word “maturation”. In many ways, I consider myself to be quite mature, but I have to admit, being single, 25 and having minimal responsibilities has afforded me the ability to hold on to my adolescence longer than most. I had always assumed it would be outside circumstances driving the eventual lifestyle change, but in reality the motivation for my desire to grow up, so to speak, is purely internal. That’s not to say I won’t still derive humor in juvenile things, or maybe have one too many drinks on occasion – it’s just that if I do consider this to be my quarter-life crisis, then the next three quarters I should hypothetically live as an adult.

Where this ties into this website is pretty clear to me. InWithSkin at its core is about bettering oneself and providing our readers with the tools and tips to do so. It’s about living healthier, feeling better and the inherent maturity needed to accomplish that. I mention maturity because the topics we broadly discuss – fitness, healthy eating, skin care regimens – all require hard work and dedication, two terms that in and of themselves require a certain level of maturity to accomplish. So, with all of this in mind, here are a few changes (we can call them resolutions) I’ve begun to implement in my life, broken up into InWithSkin-esque categories.

Skin Care: It’s time to take sunscreen a lot more seriously. I’m fair-skinned and live in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona. I am a bright, flashing florescent sign inviting skin cancer to come and visit. I do not, however, wish to get said cancer, and am well aware that the ability to prevent it lies squarely within my power.  Lazy, adolescent Micah would ignore this fact. Mature Micah prefers to stay melanoma-free.

Fitness: I’ve been talking about taking yoga classes FOREVER and the only holdup has been they just don’t fit into my already established routine. Pretty poor excuse I’d say. So, starting next week I will be attending a weekly yoga class for at least one month. Don’t worry; I’ll be sure to blog about the experience.

Food: This pledge is simple: I’m going to cook more meals at home. I know my way around the kitchen pretty well (‘sup ladies) and cook very healthfully when making meals for myself, but because I’m often cooking solo I end up copping out and ordering takeout. No more! Beginning next week the majority of my meals (that’s 3/5 if we’re talking work week, 4/7 as a whole) will be sliced, diced, sautéed or grilled by me and me alone. 

Lifestyle: A big goal for me in 2012 (and beyond) is to take more risks. Pragmatism has always been a source of pride for me but with that comes a certain aversion to risk taking. I don’t ever want to be reckless but I do think it’s important on occasion to throw caution to the wind and be willing to take that first step off the ledge (and also apparently mix metaphors). This will be the hardest to follow through on but also the one with the potential to have the most impact.

Putting this all in writing is my very first step. Now it’s time to take the next one.

Resolutions or not, what are some goals you’ve sketched out for 2012?

Written by Micah Gould, a mildly obsessed Arizona Cardinals fan whose current aspiration is to live in accordance with the “Swanson Pyramid of Greatness.” Follow his journey toward male skin care enlightenment, which he promises will be more successful than a typical Cards season.