A lot of people take a new year as a fresh start. For some it includes setting goals such as quitting smoking, losing weight, following a healthier diet, and beginning to exercise more. However, a lot of health and wellness resolutions that are made are extremely restrictive, and therefore, unsustainable. This leads to most people breaking their promises just a few weeks in. This is why you find that people make the same resolutions year after year.
If you want to break that cycle, you need to make resolutions that can be followed for life as well as improve your health. Let’s have a look at some below:
Add More Whole Foods To Your Diet
One of the simplest ways that you can improve your overall health is the eat more whole foods. Whole include fruits, vegetables, seeds, whole grains, fish, and nuts, they all contain a wide variety of fo nutrients that your body needs to function properly. Following a diet that is rich in whole foods could significantly reduce heart disease risk, body weight, and blood sugar levels, as well as decreasing your risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes.
What’s more, adding more whole foods to your diet can be done slowly and consistently. For example, if you’re not used to eating vegetables, start by adding one serving of your favourite veggie to your diet every day.
Move More And Sit Less
Whether you have a job that requires you to be stuck at a desk all day, or you are inactive, there are a lot of people who sit more than should. Sitting for too long can harm your health. Making a news years resolution to move more and sit less is attainable one and it can be tailored to fit your lifestyle. For example, if you have to sit for long periods for your job try to go for walk on your break or lunch.
Reduce Your Sweetened Drinks
Recurring the number of sweetened beverages is a great way to imprve your health, especially seems as sugary drinks are linked to a fatty liver, risk of obesity, insulin resistance and cavities. If you cut back on your sweetened drinks try doing it a bit at a time, if you go cold turkey you are less likely to stick to it. Doing it in stages will make it a habit that you can keep.
Get Better Quality Sleep
Sleep is a vital part of your overall health, sleep deprivation can lead to serious consequences. For example, lack of sleep may increase your risk of heart disease, weight gain, and depression. There are loads of reasons why people don’t get enough sleep, therefore, it is vital for you to closely look at your schedule. This way you can determine the best way to improve your quality and quantity of sleep.
Try to limit screen time right before bed, and minimise the light pollution in your room. Cutting back on caffeine earlier in the day can be one of the simplest ways to make sure you get to sleep at a reasonable hour.
Find A Physical Activity That You Enjoy
People get into the bad habit of purchasing expensive gym memberships, or gym equipment for home without first finding out what they enjoy. Most people start well, but because they don’t enjoy what they have started they quit and find it hard to turn it into a lasting habit. You can increase your chances of succeeding with your fitness resolutions if you do your research and find something that you enjoy. Whether it’s Xtend Barre resources, listing small weights, running, or anything else, make sure it’s something you can have fun doing. Once you start exercising with something you enjoy, you will soon see how easy it is to fit it into your routine.
Practice Self-Care
It is not selfish in any way to take some time for yourself. You need to remain healthy. It’s especially true for those who are in caretaker roles such as healthcare workers or parents. If you have a busy schedule and limited time, it will take some planning to have this as a resolution, however, it is definitely worth the investment. Self-care doesn’t need to be elaborate or take up too much time. It can be as simple as going to a yoga class once a week or going for a walk in nature.
Cook More At Home
Research has shown us that people who cook at home more, have a much better quality diet and less body fat compared to people who eat on the go. Start by cooking one meal at home every single day, and then increase as the year goes on. The aim is for you to be making and preparing most of your meals and snacks at home.
Spend More Time Outdoors
If you spend more time outdoors it can improve your health. It elevated your moos, lowers your blood pressure, and relieves stress. This is a sustainable goal that will make you healthier no matter who you are. Add a walk on your lunch break a few times a week, go camping with your family, ot simply send some more time in your garden. Find ways to spend time each day outdoors.
Reduce Your Screen Time
People nowadays depend on their computers and phones for both work and entertainment. This has led to people spending rather too much time on electronic devices. Especially when it comes to social media. It has been linked to anxiety, depression and loneliness. Setting a new years resolution to cut back on the amount of time you spend online, watching tv, or playing games could therefore help you to improve your productivity and boost your mood.
Rethink Dieting
Constant dieting can be harmful to both your mental and physical health. Most people who lose weight using a restrictive diet also end up regaining all and more of the weight. Dieting can also make it more difficult to lose weight in the future. Rather than using restrictive measures, try a healthier, more sustainable way of losing weight by having a focus on physical activity and eating better.
Go Food Shopping Often
It is always good to have a well-stocked pantry, in fact, it is a necessity in order for you to cook healthy, home-cooked foods. If you don’t usually go food shopping often, make it one of your resolutions to go to a market or the grocery store more often so you can always have the nutritious ingredients that you need. It might be useful to commit one day to go and do your shopping every week. This will ensure you have no excuses when it comes ot preparing healthy foods.
Cut Back On Alcohol
Alcohol can fit into a healthy diet, however, having it too often can have a bad impact on your health. Drinking alcohol too frequently can also stop you from reaching your health and wellness goals. If you want ot cut back on alcohol it’s a good idea to set yourself a goal to keep you on track. Limit yourself to only drinking on a weekend, and limit it.
Have A Vacation
Taking a vacation, even if it’s a short one could have significant and immediate positive effects on your stress levels and could enhance your well-being. When the new year arrives, why not make a resolution to take a vacation at some point in the year. Whether you want to travel far or just see more of your own country, it will all be relaxing and that is important for your wellbeing and health.
Stop Negative Body Talk
Although it can be easy to do, you should stop talking negatively about your body. It can lead to feelings of shame, and it is also linked with higher levels of body dissatisfaction and can lead to decreased self-esteem. Try to engage yourself in positive self-talk often and reduce the amount you talk negatively. It won’t only help to improve your own relationship with your body but also helps others to stop talking bad about themselves too.
Look After Your Teeth
Maintaining your oral health is an idea that can and should be sustained for life. It is important for you to brush and floss every day as well as make sure you go to your routine dentist appointments. Doing this will help you to prevent oral conditions like bad breath and gum disease. Gum disease has been linked with more serious health conditions like Alzheimer’s and heart disease, which makes oral care all the more critical. If you notice any issue with your teeth or gums it is imperative you go to the dentist as soon as you can.
The Bottom Line
The healthy resolutions that are above, are all sustainable ways that you can improve your physical and emotional health, you should be able to follow them for life. If you want even more chance of sticking to them, try doing one or two at a time and then moving on to the others. A healthy lifestyle won’t just happen overnight.
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