The new year is almost around the corner, and many of us look forward to beginning the year on a high note. Coming up with a list of new year’s resolutions is easy. The challenging part is sticking to your resolutions. Are you worried that your new year’s resolution is going to last only for a few weeks? You’re certainly not alone.
No matter what your resolution is, it can be challenging to sustain it if you don’t have the right plan.
Here are some ideas for new year’s resolutions that are good for you, and you can keep them as well.
Make Healthy Food Choices
The foods you eat have a direct impact on your physical and mental health. So, if you are looking for the most effective way to improve your overall health, you can start making the right food choices.
Include whole foods into your diet like vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, whole grains. Eating healthy foods can decrease the risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes.
Adding whole foods to your diet can be done in a slow, consistent manner. Instead of getting overwhelmed, start by adding one serving of vegetables or fruit to your diet every day.
It’s also best to stay away from unhealthy foods like sweetened beverages and packaged foods like chips and cookies. You can start cutting down on their consumption by cooking meals at home using healthy products and ingredients.
Get Active
The presence of digital technology has made our life simple, but it has also made our lifestyles more sedentary. Working for long hours at a desk or in front of the computer can have serious adverse effects on your health. It’s important to stay active, and you can stick to this resolution by being mindful of your activity levels.
Take a 5-minute break every hour, so you are not sitting for prolonged periods during work hours. You can also try to take a 15-minute walk during lunch to keep activity levels high.
It’s also essential to engage in a physical activity that you love. You can choose to play a sport, begin a workout regime, go cycling, go running, or even go for a walk. The chances of sticking to your resolution would depend on how much you enjoy the activity. You can start by including the fitness activity into your schedule for one or two days a week and then continue as you go along.
Get Better Sleep
One of the most neglected aspects of your well-being is the amount of quality sleep you get each night. Not getting enough sleep can increase your risk of heart disease, depression, and weight gain.
Getting enough sleep is essential for helping a person maintain optimal health and well-being. When it comes to their health, sleep is as vital as regular exercise and eating a balanced diet (Fletcher, 2019).
Apart from the quantity of sleep, you can focus on the right lifestyle choices to ensure good quality sleep. Some ways to get better sleep are reducing caffeine intake after evening and getting into bed at a reasonable hour.
Many of us are dependent on our computers and phones for work. Your sleep could get seriously compromised if you are spending a lot of time on these electronic devices. Set a cutoff time, so you don’t spend time scrolling through social media, playing video games, or watching TV close to bedtime.
Take Care of Your Mental Well-Being
We all lead busy lives, multitasking, and handling a range of tasks each day. You may be busy looking after aging parents or young children. While these tasks are physically demanding, we tend to ignore how they can impact our mental health.
Take some time out to look after your mental well-being. It may be a simple self-care act like going for a walk, cooking for favorite food, attending a yoga class, or even sleeping in for a little while longer. You can even decide to take a vacation with family, friends or alone. These small steps have significant positive effects on your well-being.
Tracking Your Progress
Making resolutions and following them is harder for some people than others. If you are finding it challenging to keep up with your resolutions, write them down. You can also share it with someone, so they can help you stay accountable and motivate you. With all of the apps and social media available to us, it isn’t hard to find a tracker and online group to help us stay on track and accountable.
Some apps available for Android and iOS such as HealthTap, Shopwell, and Elevate:Brain Training help us with health questions, healthy food choices when grocery shopping and brain activities to keep us mentally sharp (Healthline 2020).
It’s crucial to remember that it’s not about bringing about life-sweeping changes. What matters most is the small steps you take each day consistently to achieve your goals.
We wish you the best in the New Year and hope you make wise choices and stick with them!
Works Cited
Fletcher, J. (2019, May 31). Why is sleep important? 9 reasons for getting a good night’s rest. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325353
Jewell, Tim. The Best Healthy Lifestyle Apps of 2020. 12 Aug. 2020, www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/top-healthy-lifestyle-iphone-android-apps.
