The New Year is the time when you reflect on the past 12 months and set new goals for yourself. Setting a New Year’s resolution is the easy part, it’s sticking to one that is actually hard. Health-related resolutions are among the most common and usually the most difficult to accomplish.
To ensure success: Write down your goals, make sure they are realistic, achievable, and well defined and share them with someone to help keep yourself on track. Here are a few New Year’s resolutions which can increase the overall quality of your health:
Lose Weight
The fact that this is consistently among the most popular resolutions every New Year indicates just how difficult it is to accomplish. A healthy balanced diet in combination with regular exercise may help to reduce your weight. Losing weight will improve your health, increase your confidence and self-esteem, and also reduce the risk of obesity-related diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
(Read More on Losing Weight here and here)
Get More Exercise
One of the best ways to achieve this resolution is to simply start moving more; walking or biking instead of driving and taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Working out is the best way to improve your physical health.
Whether it is a simple jog in the morning or some sports activity or resistance training like weight lifting, working out will boost your cardiovascular health, burn fat, improve your body shape, and make you feel better about yourself.
(Read More on Exercising here and here)
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
This is a highly effective New Year’s resolution that could really improve your day-to-day health. Eating more fruits and vegetables in your meals is one of the healthiest dietary steps you can take.
These foods keep your body energized with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. They also provide fiber and water, which help control appetite and improve digestive health. Getting enough fiber may also help prevent type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers.
(Read More on Diet here and here)
Limit your Sugar and Salt intake
Sugar does not provide much nutrition but is a major source of calories. It increases your risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Eliminating sugar entirely just isn’t possible, so take steps to reduce your intake.
High salt consumption can lead to several health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease and more. Limit salt intake and also cut down on processed foods, such as sauces, pickles, and chips, which are full of added salt.
(Read More on Sugar Intake here)
Drink more Water
We often don’t drink enough fluids and risk becoming dehydrated, especially during summer. Water is best for staying hydrated. Your body depends on water to survive. To function efficiently, every cell, tissue, and organ in your body needs water.
For example, your body uses water to maintain its temperature, remove waste, prevent constipation, and lubricate your joints. If you’re dehydrated, your body can’t perform at its highest level. You can stay well hydrated by drinking water and other fluids whenever you feel thirsty.
(Read More on Water Intake here)
Drink less Alcohol
The short and long-term effects of alcohol can affect your body, lifestyle, and mental health. Drinking alcohol in excess can increase the risk of depression, memory loss, or even seizures.
Chronic heavy drinking increases the risk of liver and heart disease, hypertension, stroke, mental deterioration, and even cancers of the mouth, throat, liver, and breast. If you frequently binge drink, its time to consider a change.
Quit Smoking
Quitting smoking could be one of the best decisions you could make this New Year. Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causes many diseases, and reduces the health of smokers in general.
Quitting smoking lowers your risk for smoking-related illnesses and can add years to your life. Smoking is one of the harder habits to quit. You may need to try different quitting methods till you find the one that works for you.
Get enough Sleep
Sleep is a necessity, not a luxury. Sleeping needs vary according to age, but a good night’s rest can do wonders for your mood and appearance. Sleep is important for proper functioning of your mind and body.
It is critical for problem-solving and maintaining alertness. A lack of sleep is associated with anxiety, reduced productivity and an increased risk for chronic diseases, such as depression, diabetes, cancer, and obesity. Regularize your sleeping hours and gain benefits in all areas of your life.
Cut down on Stress
Stress is a normal, unavoidable part of our daily life. Long work hours, no leisure time, less sleep, no exercise, and poor diet can contribute to stress. Chronic stress can increase your risk of insomnia, depression, obesity, heart disease and more.
Finding ways to de-stress can help you mentally and physically. Go for a walk, sleep, socialize, turn off your cell phone, practice deep breathing or yoga or take a vacation.
Practice Meditation
The benefits of meditation are immense, from improved mental health to better concentration to a lower risk for disease. Learning how to breathe and relax may not only make you feel more secure, confident and calm, but regular meditation may also lower your blood pressure and improve your heart health. Commit some time to meditation every day.
(Read More on Meditation here)
Take a Break from Technology
Every once in a while try leaving your smartphone or tablet at home and take a walk or go out with a friend. Taking regular breaks from smartphones and other portable electronic devices may help reduce anxiety and regain control and focus of your day-to-day life. Spending time away from your phone is a healthy way to reconnect not only with yourself but also with your friends and family.
So this New Year, energize your mind and body with these lifestyle changes. Aim to make this year your best one yet.