This is about the time most people are writing their ‘to do’ list for the new year, 2018. It is a ritual that comes with the close of the old and ushering in a new year.
How have you taken care of your health in 2017? Did you take enough water, exercise religiously, stop smoking, learned how to relax because you have always taken your life too seriously?
Maybe you did, maybe not. The beauty of where you are at is that you can always press start, continue or stop. You have the remote to your health in the new year.
2018 could be the year that you choose a healthier path. Thus, making certain adjustments comes in handy. Here are 5 changes that you can apply in the new year.
Cut Down on Stress
If you have struggled with unexplained headaches, fatigue, stomachaches that have pointed you towards stress, it is time, in the new year, to work on your stress levels. A good place to begin your destress journey is to identify what is causing it.
If technology is contributing to your stress levels, check and work on that. Taking work home is not a brilliant way of utilising technology now is responding to every email you get.
Chronic stress is known to increase the risk of depression, heart disease, obesity and insomnia.
If you are unable to deal with your stress levels, seek help.
Eat Well
Eating a healthy diet is tied to many things including your mood, weight, sleep, energy levels, the list is endless. Healthy eating shouldn’t feel like going through a painful punishment that deprives you of the joys of living.
Choose to eat real food over processed food. Think about balance in your diet always. If you struggle with a sweet tooth, here are some things you might consider to tame that sweet tooth. Healthy eating reduces your chances of getting diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
Stop Smoking
It should be a no-brainer by now that smoking is bad for your health. Have you tried quitting before and slid back to the same old habit? That is okay. It has happened to others who tried to quit as well. Try a couple of things and see what works for you.
Smoking not only harms your health, it harms the health of other people as well. High exposure to Second-Hand Smoke, according to research increases the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancers and heart diseases..
Sleep…sleep some more…
There is a very good reason why nature expects us to sleep. The fact that everytime you wake up you feel rejuvenated, energetic and more functional should tell you something about its value. Good sleep is connected to healthy metabolism and weight as well. In the new year, develop a habit of sleeping regular hours. It helps communicate to your body. Make your bedroom a sleeping space only.
Checking who has commented on your Facebook post or Instagram picture is not a healthy way of checking in. Invest in a comfortable bed and mattress, your back will thank you for it. Besides, you will snooze better. If you want motivation to put in the hours in sleep, just think of the sleeping habits of highly successful people. Perhaps it will help you ponder whether you still need to be deceiving yourself about working hard while depriving yourself of a valuable healthy routine.
Here is to a healthy and happy New Year…2018.
