New Year’s resolutions can be a funny thing. More often than not, you’ve given up on yours by the end of January and they tend to be more of something to say rather than something to do. Setting an unrealistic goal for yourself at any time of the year can be difficult to achieve, so why not focus on simpler lifestyle changes instead?
Find the balance you’ve been looking for with these lifestyle tips for a healthier, more balanced you in 2019.
Ditch the things that are bad for you
We all have bad habits, but there are some that are arguably worse than others. Smoking, drinking heavily and eating a poor diet are just some of the things that are not only classed as bad habits, but can lead to serious health problems too. Get help with quitting smoking and your other habits to help you get the year off to a healthier start.
Ditching the bad things can also reply to relationships. A toxic relationship or a one-way friendship can take their toll on you, while cutting the cord can take the weight off your shoulders. Surround yourself with people who are supportive and make you happy, and ditch those that bring you down.
Get more sleep
Sleep is more important than we realise, and a lack of it too often can affect your mood, your mental health, and your physical health too. It’s recommended that the average adult gets 6-8 hours sleep, and aiming for the 8 hours will help you to feel recharged and rested. Learn how to get a better night’s sleep and feel the benefits for your health and wellbeing.
Improve your morning routine
Even the most reluctant of morning people can change their ways and make their mornings more productive. A good morning routine will help you to wake up feeling energised rather than sluggish, allowing you to take your time getting ready and enjoy a proper breakfast. Start every day happy by making some adjustments to your morning routine.
Eat healthier
Many people aim to start the New Year off by aiming to lose weight, but why not focus on eating healthier instead? Instead of following a fad diet or counting every single calorie, making an effort to eat healthier, more natural food can help you look and feel better inside out. Some simple healthy eating tips to adopt include:
- Make more meals from scratch so that you avoid excess sugar, fat, and salt found in many ready-made foods.
- Try making your own lunches instead of relying on shop sandwiches and other convenience foods, which often include high quantities of unhealthy ingredients.
- Make sure you get all of the nutrients your body needs. If you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, for example, there are ways to ensure your body gets the right nutrition to keep your body healthy.
- Cut back on sweet treats and drinking – everything in moderation!
- Avoid excess sugar in your diet by giving up soft drinks and sugar-filled foods, you’ll soon find that your sweet cravings disappear.
Get more active
Even if you hate exercise, it’s important to keep your body moving and active. Plus, how do you know you hate exercise when you haven’t tried everything? Recommended activity guidelines for adults say you should aim for 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week to stay healthy, as well as strength exercises at least two days a week. Walking is a fantastic way to stay healthy, so why not start walking to work or leaving the car at home on weekends to help you get those miles in? Finding an activity you enjoy can help make exercise feel like less of a chore, so make sure you try several different activities to help you find one that suits you.
Become more financially stable
Your finances can be a huge source of stress, leading you to bury your head in the sand about your financial situation. However, getting a grip on your finances can help you feel more in control, as well as help you prepare for your future. Start by looking at your debts and making a plan to pay them back. Secured instalment loans can help you manage all of your repayments to take the stress away, and help you save for things like travel, a car or buying a house. Becoming more financially stable can lift a huge weight off your shoulders and help you to sleep better at night.
Take some more time to yourself
We often pride ourselves on how busy and social we are, but keeping up with a lifestyle that’s always on the go can soon take its toll. Instead of saying yes to every social invitation, learn how to say no so that you can claw back some time to yourself. A night in to yourself now and then will do you some good, helping you to focus on the things you enjoy and give you a chance to catch your breath. Once you get into the habit of saying no and realising the world doesn’t end when you do, you’ll be able to say no guilt-free in no time.
Be more organised
If your life tends to be chaotic and you never know where you’re supposed to be from one minute to the next – start becoming more organised. Whether you need to be more organised at work or at home, taking charge can change your life and means that you’ll stop forgetting things. Putting things into your calendar or having a weekly wall chart makes it easier to stay on top of things and puts you back in control.
A new year means a fresh start and the perfect opportunity to make some important lifestyle changes. Start off with smaller changes, and seeing your progress can help spur you on to achieve more. Life is all about finding balance, and finding yours in 2019 could help you become your happiest, healthiest self.
Speak soon,
Lotsa love
AG xxo
