5 Common New Year’s Health Resolutions and How to Go Through With Them

A new year signifies a fresh start and, for many, that includes setting new goals. Wellness tends to be high on the list of priorities when saying goodbye to one year and seeing in a new one. This makes New Year’s health resolutions a popular choice. You may, for example, want to switch to a healthier diet. Or you may want to start exercising more to improve your physical fitness. Mental health is just as important as your physical health so you may be determined to make some more time for yourself and cut out the issues that cause you stress.

Whilst making New Year’s resolutions is a common practice, so too is breaking them. Unfortunately, despite being fuelled with good intentions at the start of the year, it’s all too easy to let them slip shortly afterwards. So why do so many resolutions fall by the wayside? A lot of the time, the resolutions can simply be too strict and not practical enough to achieve in day-to-day living. Others don’t show results quickly enough so you’re left feeling disheartened and simply give up. The trick is to set yourself New Year’s health resolutions that you can genuinely keep and that are easily achievable. Here, we’ve detailed five common New Year’s health resolutions and how to go through with them.

1.        Be more active 

   If you’re not used to exercising regularly, then start your new exercise routine with activities you enjoy and can fit into your schedule easily. Going for a walk, for example, is not only good exercise but helps to clear your mind. If you enjoy dancing, make time to do this for a fun way to keep fit. For something less energetic, try gentle forms of exercise, such as tai chi. If you already have a gym membership but tend not to use it, ask a friend to work out with you for added motivation. You don’t even need to plan specific types of exercise. You can simply use stairs more often or park further away from the shops so that you can walk more. You may work from home and find it hard to wean yourself away from your desk. In that case, simply exercise while you’re sitting there.

2.       Get more sleep 

   Sleeping gives both your body and mind time to recharge. However, you may find it hard to get enough sleep or quality sleep. For your New Year’s resolution, there are some easy tips to follow to ensure you benefit from a good night’s sleep every night. Set yourself a sleep routine so that you wake up and go to bed at the same time each day. Cut down on the amount of caffeine you drink and avoid it from the afternoon onwards. Use dimmer lights in the evenings to create a relaxed atmosphere before bedtime. Switch off your devices before you go to bed and ensure any electronics in the bedroom are switched off too. This is important because they stimulate your brain and disturb your sleep patterns. Ensure your room is dark and cool for more restful sleep.

3.       Make time for relaxation 

   Your schedule may be a hectic one but it’s essential to make time for yourself. Having too much to do or too many things to worry about causes stress and this is harmful to your health, both physically and mentally. Set aside time each day to relax without any interruptions. Read a good book for half an hour, enjoy a relaxing bath, practice some calming breathing exercises or have a go at meditation. If you’ve always wanted to try a hobby, what better time to start than in the new year? Switch off your phone for a certain period each day too. That way, you’re not constantly responding to messages or scrolling through social media.

4.       Cut back on alcohol 

   Especially after the Christmas holiday, you may decide to cut down some on the alcohol you drink. There’s no need to cut alcohol out completely, just cut back and set yourself reasonable limits. For example, set a limit for how much you’re going to drink within a week or skip alcohol during the week and only have it on the weekends. Try some non-alcoholic alternatives so that you can still enjoy the flavour without the added alcohol content. If you normally drink to excess, you’ll find that cutting back on alcohol will help you to lose weight, make you feel more energetic and even improve the health of your skin.

5.       Live life to the fullest 

   Making simple changes to your health regime is one thing but perhaps the most important New Year’s resolution you should make is to enjoy life to its fullest. Especially after the pandemic, this is crucial for your mental well-being. You don’t have to start scaling mountains or jumping out of planes…just enjoy the life you have instead of just muddling through. Spend more quality time with your loved ones. Try learning something new to boost your motivation. This can either be done at home using an online course or you can go to a class and make new friends while you’re at it. Do some voluntary work to lift your mood, whether you prefer helping people or animals. Plan a weekend away to give yourself something to look forward to and, in the meantime, treat yourself with a trip to the spa or visit an attraction you keep meaning to go to.

Conclusion

As you head into 2023, these five common New Year’s health resolutions can be achieved easily with simple adjustments to your lifestyle. That way, you’re guaranteed to be happier and healthier as they start to take effect.