The time is coming close when your Instagram is going to be filled with, ‘new year new me’ posts. Do you dread it or are you going to add a picture of your own? Either way, something that can’t be denied is how the past few months have forced us to rethink what health and wellness mean to us. The New Year is not far and taking a cue from the year we have had, it’s a good time to stock up on the health of our being and not just toilet paper. Let’s look at some of the resolutions that we can make for the sake of that, resolutions we can actually keep.
Start From The Right Place
What we mean is, your desire to be healthier should be coming from a place where you wish to have more love and pride towards your body. It should not come from a place of hating it or of being unkind to yourself. Trust us, there is a world of difference between both the approaches, which determines your attitude towards and ultimately, how much you love your body. And we don’t want the love to be any less than 110%. It can be more, but not less – that should be illegal.
Cook More At Home
This is something towards which 2020 has already pushed us. Cooking at home means that you know exactly what is going into your food. You now know for sure whether the food is really farm fresh or factory fresh and how much sugar there actually is in your ‘all-natural processed juice’. You can come up with your own secret ingredients in the recipes that your future generations will badger you for. Not to mention how much better for your pockets it really is.
Get At Least 8 Hours Of Sleep
Remember when you wanted to get more results for less efforts? Sleeping properly as per a schedule is the way to do that. It is one way of making sure your metabolism doesn’t go haywire while mitigating the risk of heart disease and depression. Plus, it’s cheaper than spending any number of dollars on eye creams.
Eat More Whole Foods
Yes, eating more fruits and vegetables is an important part of adulting. Your diet cannot look like you eat off the kid’s menu. Whole foods like nuts, fish, grains and seeds are what keep your body running, not your morning coffee. This is what will make sure that your weight and heart are better managed, along with reducing future risks of high blood pressure and diabetes. A diet of whole foods will never disappoint you, unlike your Tinder date. This is the kind of food that you see a future with and the first step towards it should be taken this new year.
See also: 5 Superfoods That Are Really Good For You | 5 Best Food Festivals in Texas 2021
Move More And Sit Less
This might sound a little iffy in terms of incorporation, considering that a lot of us lead rather sedentary lifestyles, but it is actually very easy to do. It’s as simple as taking the stairs instead of the lift, and walking when you are on the phone instead of sitting and talking. Plus, just walk for 10-15 minutes after 2-3 hours of sitting in one place. Small tips to keep on your feet can make a world of difference to your entire health.
Find A Physical Activity That You Like
All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. It could be anything – running, a sport, hitting the gym, yoga, Pilates, basically whatever floats your boat. It’s a great way of staying active and achieving your fitness goals, not to mention how working out actually helps you increase your strength and stamina. It’s as much for the brain as it is for the body. You certainly feel mentally refreshed after. To top things off, it’s also a great way to meet new people and make friends.
Related: 9 Ways To Stay Healthy Inside Out
Limit Screen Time
Something that we have all been thinking about and then silently denying. Limiting screen time means that you can fall asleep faster, pay more attention to your surroundings and maybe finish reading that book you started and then fell out of. We’re not asking you to break up with Netflix and Hulu. But you guys can have a much healthier relationship if you just give each other enough space.
Cut Back On Alcohol
Yes, wine is ‘grape juice’, but that doesn’t mean you need to finish a bottle by yourself. Alcohol can certainly be an aid to a healthy diet, no doubt about it, but only when had in moderation. But even then, it depends on the kind of alcohol and your specific nutritional needs. You can instead opt for a cup of tea or some mocktails instead. It’s alright to turn into a teetotaler on some days.
Take Care Of Your Teeth
Remember in college when you woke up late and did not have time to brush your teeth so you just used a mouthwash and went to class? Please don’t do that anymore. Not only does it not mask the smell, it also means that you are maintaining poor oral health. Teeth and gums are like the middle child – they just don’t get enough attention. Never skip on brushing and flossing. Adapt to an oral care regimen, something your dentist and the people around you will compliment you for.
Interesting: Alter your Diet as per Workout Regime
Regular Check Ups With The Doctor
A stitch in time saves nine. Getting regular check ups done is the way to spot any potential problems and prevent them from turning into something more serious. Just a way of keeping ahead of yourself.
Conclusion
While any of these resolutions can stand by themselves, true magic starts to happen when you do all of these together, as each one of these resolutions is a complement to the other. It’s kind of like the Avengers assembling to fight a common enemy. One tip we would like you to keep in mind is that there may be individual differences with respect to preferences, allergies, affordability and a few more factors. It is advisable to take this one step at a time, and maybe with the consultation of your dietitian, in case you are making drastic changes or have any existing medical conditions.
We would like to remind you of one very most important thing – loving your body is not just a goal but a whole journey. It is love for your body that is making you start this journey and it is that love that will keep you on the path. Push, but don’t punish yourself. It might take a while to create a sustainable diet and exercise routine that works for you, so have the patience to get there and most importantly, always listen to and respect your body. So to conclude, for real this time, let’s recap this quote by Francois La Rochefoucauld – ‘to eat is a necessity but to eat intelligently is an art’.
See also: You are What You Eat. Why are Food Choices Essential and How they Affect Us?|FODMAP 101 – All That You Need to Know!
