02/01/2023
Rewarding New Year's Resolutions for a Healthy, Happy Life
Yes, fitness goals are included — but the best resolutions often enrich your emotional health and spirit.
Practice mindfulness.
Anxiety can nag at anyone during any season, in all parts of life — and it can be easy to let the idea of the future or past experiences inform your reality of the present. Practicing mindfulness means doing everything you can to be grateful for what you have in the moment, where you are in life, and who you are right now, Committing to mindfulness can help you become a better person in less than a year's time.
Build a better budget.
If there's one New Year's resolution that will help you the most in the long run, it's making a vow to save more money.
Before you head back to the office in January, outline a rough budget that works for you — and make a plan for how you'll stick to it. Budgeting apps can help you do this as painlessly as possible. And supercharge your shopping habits by rethinking when and how you buy things for your home and family; often, there are savings you're leaving on the table.
Cook something new each week.
Everyone wants to eat healthier in the new year, but you should also try to eat more diverse foods. After all, variety is the spice of life. This year, choose an easy dinner recipe you've never tried before at least once a week.
Read more books.
January is the perfect time of year to snuggle up with a new book. To keep yourself accountable all year long, why not link up with friends and peers to connect over the best pages you've read? Book Club can help you get started on this and, together, you'll have a clear snapshot of how many books you'll end up finishing before the year's out.
Drink less alcohol.
You already know you don't need to drink to have fun — so why not make this year the one you cut back and join the sober curious movement? Doing so can help to improve your mood, sleep, skin and your immune system. Plus, it'll also help you save money in the long run.
Learn to love vegetables.
Whether you're working on weight management or towards a balanced diet, vegetables are your friends,
Fiber-rich vegetables are especially crucial for healthy hearts and strong veins: "A heart-healthy diet emphasizes produce, balanced by fiber-rich whole grains, fish, nuts, legumes, and lean proteins," she says. The healthiest vegetables that you should try to eat daily often double down on gut-healthy fiber.
Become a plant owner.
Swing by the garden center after brunch this weekend. Just the presence of indoor plants can lower human stress levels, research shows, and one study found that actively caring for plants calmed the autonomic nervous system and lowered blood pressure.
And when people work near plants, they report greater concentration, satisfaction, and perceived air quality.
Take the stairs.
Take 10 minutes to run up the stairs in your office or home. A published study in the journal Physiology & Behavior found that tired women who climbed stairs for 10 minutes got a bigger energy boost than those who had the caffeine equivalent of a can of soda or half a cup of coffee (and burned calories too!).
Drink up(water).
You know you need to hydrate — but it's especially important when you get only six hours of sleep (or less!). You’re more likely to be dehydrated the day after a disrupted night of sleep, because a hormone that regulates your body’s water conservation is released during later stages of sleep. So down some extra water on those days if you can — and remember that too much water can be tricky for your gut, too.
Volunteer regularly.
Research shows that pitching in regularly can lead to less stress and lower blood pressure. Try to schedule an outreach mission of your own on a day of service; many recognize
Listen to novels while you work out.
Exercisers who saved an audiobook for the gym worked out 51% more often than those who didn't, per a study in Management Science. Sweat while listening to an intense thriller, and the treadmill time will fly by. Audiobook lender Audible allows you to try it for yourself, entirely free, for 30 days. Give it a whirl!
Lift weights.
If you've already mastered your cardio workouts in the past few years, why not try incorporating a new routine? A quality set of dumbbells can help elevate your workout, improve your stamina, and build muscle. Plus, they work well with many of the other gadgets in your home gym to reinvigorate your workout.
Give your feet better support.
Shop in the afternoon. When feet are slightly swollen, it's easier to find the right size and avoid pinchy shoes.
Do squats. Lace up and do a couple of knee bends. If the shoes are properly supportive, your knee should move over your foot, not inward.
Try a guided workout or class.
You don't need to pay for a new gym membership or shell out for a new premium subscription to try a new routine! YouTube holds a ton of programming from qualified experts that may get lost in the shuffle; everything from dance classes to 15-minute core workouts. Many channels offer a full suite of programs that you can follow for weeks at a time.
Continue fun learning at home.
Your little ones may have finally returned to school, but you can still continue to spend quality time learning and playing together at home. Incorporating STEM activities into fun playtime is easier than you may think and is a great way to enjoy quality time with your graduate-to-be.
Give yourself a new look.
Working on your look is just as refreshing as turning over a new leaf internally. Taking off a few inches can make you feel (literally and figuratively) so much lighter in the new year. Even a simple new style or hair color could brighten your days and put pep back into your step in 2023.
Quit smoking.
Ci******es are extremely harmful for your health, particularly your lungs — but to***co products in general (including vapes!) pose a serious threat. There are so many resources to help you get a jumpstart on ditching to***co: Many are touted by officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you've tried before but need a bit more help, experts at the American Cancer Society outline a few tools that you can turn to this year.
Commit to a healthier sleep routine.
So many issues can be traced back to a poor night's sleep. And yet, there is so much more that we can aim to improve beyond a reasonable bedtime. Creating a plan to improve your sleep hygiene — the habits you maintain to get good sleep every night — may look different for everyone, as it depends on when you need to be active and working throughout the day. Your brain actually relies on cues to regulate your internal circadian rhythm, and the choices you make throughout the day can interfere with these.
