Happy New Year! Does your new year resolution center around health and wellness? The key to sticking with these goals is to create manageable plans and expectations. These lifestyle changes take time, so be fair and kind to yourself. Here are a few of our favorite health and wellness resolutions that are actually easy stick to.
Practice mindful eating.
Mindful eating is key to a healthy lifestyle. This involves taking the time to truly appreciate and savor your food. Eliminate distractions, and notice how your body will let you know when you are full. This mindfulness also leads to a more balanced and healthy diet; you will be more in tune with what your body is really craving.
Stay hydrated.
Water is an essential component to health and wellness. Increase your daily water intake by keeping a water bottle handy. In addition, drink water before every meal and when you are feeling the urge to snack. Oftentimes, we confuse thirst with hunger and drinking more water helps resolve this issue.
Keep a consistent sleep schedule.
A consistent sleep schedule is very important. When your schedule changes night to night, your internal clock doesn’t have a chance to normalize. This makes it difficult to both fall asleep and wake up when you need to. When you are strict about your bedtime and wake up time, your body becomes in sync with your schedule. This allows you to fall asleep faster and have a quality night’s rest.
Find the right workout for you.
When it comes to fitness, everyone has unique preferences and goals. That is why it is important to take the time to discover what works for you. The first step is to determine your ultimate goal. Is it to build muscle? Increase flexibility? Burn fat? Next, try workouts that will help you achieve your specific goal. Also, it never hurts to opt for workouts that you enjoy. Working out can be fun!
Cut back on the sugar.
Did you know, the average American consumes about 150 pounds of sugar each year? Sugar is highly addictive and increases your risk of heart disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Take a step back and think about the sugar you consume on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Although cutting back on sugar doesn’t happen overnight, there are steps you can take to make the process more doable. For example, eat fresh foods, drink more water and opt for spices.
Want more health and wellness tips? Check out our other blogs!
