Many of us write up a list of resolutions to kick start the new year. More often than not, this list is heavy on healthy living ideas. From losing excess weight to sleeping better, from exercising more to looking after our mental health, the choices are pretty much endless.
And while it’s easy to sit down and put together a list of our best-intentioned new healthy habits, sticking to them religiously is a whole different ballgame. If you are struggling with keeping up with the amazing resolutions that you had created back in January, then you’ve come to the right place.
Our article will guide you towards the healthier and happier lifestyle that you want and deserve but are finding it hard to achieve. Ready to board the healthy living train?
Start Small and Be Realistic
You might be planning for a bit of a revolution in your lifestyle, but you should still start by choosing a small and realistic first goal. Forcing yourself to bring in a lot of huge changes all at once will only set you up for failure (and a lot of unnecessary pressure).
So, find ten minutes during your day to sit down with a notebook and a pen, and think. What is the one most important, or urgent, aspect of your lifestyle that you want to improve in the short term? Is it your diet, or how much you exercise, or your stress levels?
Once you have zoomed into what truly bothers you and what you want to change right now, you can get started with a lot more clarity and determination than you would have if you were trying to tackle lots of things at once.
Schedule a Meeting With Your Wellness
You’re probably very good at keeping up with your busy work schedule and making everyone happy at home, but what about… you? Healthy living begins with you: flesh, bones, and spirit.
Why not try and block out a slot of your agenda for a special meeting with yourself? Pick something that you like to do: it could be as simple as taking a long, indulgent bubbly bath, or as sophisticated as going to an art class or learning a new language.
Do this on a weekly basis: you can choose the same day and time, or change it up according to your commitments. Whatever you decide to do, make sure that you continue to schedule (and attend!) those all-important “meetings”.
Get Out In the Fresh Air
Spending time outdoors has been proven, time and again, to generate a wide array of benefits for both our bodies and our minds. Take it upon yourself to leave your house every single day and breath in some fresh air.
Try to not let yourself put off by the weather. See that as an opportunity to connect with nature on a different and deeper level. Time outdoors and a good sleep schedule will do wonders for your health.
Familiarize With Your Hormones
If you are a woman, and regardless of your age, it’s a good idea to consider the role that your hormones play in your overall wellbeing. During the menstrual cycle, for example, different hormones “rule” different phases, with various consequences that can hugely impact on your mental and physical health.
Do you think that this might be the case for you? Then, cycle syncing can help. This is the practice of synchronizing your eating patterns, exercising habits, and skincare routine to the various phases of your cycle.
And while its validity hasn’t been proven yet from a scientific point of view, many women already swear by it. If you believe that your hormones are the main culprit when it comes to feeling low, deflated, and in physical pain, you should give cycle syncing a try.
Rope In a Friend
Do you know someone else who is about to embark on a similar journey towards self-improvement? Great: it’s time to walk side by side and tackle the challenge together. It’s been proven that facing obstacles and approaching big milestones with the support of a loved one can help to be successful.
Whatever your specific goal is, then, make sure you rope in a friend, family member, colleague, or acquaintance that you trust and look up to. Together, the road to a better life will be much easier and more pleasant to travel.
Embrace Creativity
Tapping into your imagination can benefit many areas of your life. For example, you can channel your creative side into the kitchen by experimenting with new, exciting recipes that are good for your body and soul. And what about using your creativity to save money and become more financially self-sufficient?
There seems to be a correlation, as this analysis demonstrates, between health and wealth. So, if you aim to live a healthier, better life, you might want to try and set up a long-term financial plan that can create more stability and prosperity for you.
Remember Your Mental Wellbeing
Last but, of course, not least, a healthy lifestyle doesn’t just mean to eat well and to exercise regularly. It also means looking after your emotional wellbeing. Mental health issues of various kinds affect a huge amount of people across all demographics, countries, and socio-cultural backgrounds.
Make sure you take some time every day to do something that makes you feel good about yourself, and that takes care of your emotions. It can be anything: from meditation and mindfulness to reading or writing, or simply having a nap or running yourself a warm bath.
Get a Head Start In Healthy Living With Our Unmissable Tips
If you are serious about healthy living, then our guide can help. With tips on all areas of life — from food to exercise, from mental health to relationships — leading a healthier, happier lifestyle has never been easier.
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