The beginning of a new year has traditionally been a time to begin afresh. Didn’t make the best decisions this year? The New year could be where you try again. But new year resolutions are also notoriously impractical and impossible to keep. Maybe that’s because we set ourselves up to fail. In the enthusiasm to turn over a new leaf, we set up unattainable goals. And once we miss a single day, the disappointment makes us feel like there is no point in trying any more and we give up altogether. Here are 5 tips that could help you actually follow through with your new year resolution:
a. Keep it personal. Resolutions are the one thing that should not be influenced by trends. You will follow through only if it matters to you.
b. Make it achievable. You are way more likely to exercise for 10 minutes every day rather than running a mile a day.
c. Keep yourself accountable. Putting a tick mark on a goal achieved every day gives you a sense of achievement which makes you want to keep the streak going.
d. Account for emergencies. When you decide to go to the gym 5 days a week rather that every single day, that busy day when you couldn’t make it is not a failure, but just a day off.
e. Plan in advance. Putting in the work to make it convenient to follow through with your resolution will make your life much easier.
Now that we have the execution of the resolution out of the way, here is a list of healthy resolutions to start the new year with:
For your body:
1. Take 6-8 hours of undisturbed, restful sleep every day.
2. Carry water wherever you go and stay hydrated.
3. Brush and floss your teeth and use a tongue cleaner twice a day.
4. Eat at least two home cooked meals every day (unless you are traveling).
5. Ensure that each meal you eat is fresh and hot.
6. Reduce the usage of salt (1 tsp/day) and oil (5 tsp/day).
7. Choose natural sugars like honey and fruits and skip white sugar.
8. Put thought into your grocery shopping and buy healthy alternatives.
9. Put aside 10 minutes for some stretching and simple exercise every day.
10. Take the stairs; walk to the grocery store; move around if you don’t need to sit.
11. Integrate skin and hair care into your daily night-time routine.
12. Consult a doctor and take any supplements they recommend.
For your mind:
13. Meditate for at least 5 minutes every day.
14. Reduce your phone usage to 2-4 hours per day.
15. Set aside time to spend with nature and/or human or animal children.
16. Every weekend set aside time to have a long, meaningful chat with a person who matters to you.
17. Go back to a hobby you may have quit over the years or cultivate a new one.
18. Make it a habit to end the day with positive talk, whether alone or with a partner.
For the environment:
19. Buy organic groceries.
20. Opt for environment-friendly cleaning alternatives.
21. Buy naturally raised meat.
22. Switch to a menstrual cup.
23. Go for a bucket bath, not a shower.
If that sounds overwhelming, remember, you can start small. Choose something that seems doable for you. Make sure you make adjustments for your lifestyle and start the new year on a healthy note.
Healthy 2023 to all!
