Welcome back to Wellness Wednesday! With every New Year comes the expectation of renewed excitement and reignited passion for the things we gradually forgot we cared about over the course of the year before.
The most common resolutions seen every January focus on healthy eating, losing weight and being a more productive person in general as soon as the 1st comes along. The fads are everywhere: Dry January, No-spend January, New Year New Me, and the list goes on.
Fact is, it doesn’t matter the time of year, switching your habits cold turkey is simply not the most efficient way to create an effective and lasting lifestyle change. Instead, try these simple alterations to your daily routine that will put you on the right track this year.
Here are 5 small changes you can make today to become a happier, healthier you:
- Drink more water
Next time you’re feeling the need to refresh, take a pass on the pop or juice and reach for water instead. I recommend purchasing a reusable water bottle that can fit in your bag and be with you at all times. - Keep a food journal
If one of your goals this year is to start eating healthier, don’t just throw out all your junk food and rush to the grocery store to stock up on fruits and veg. A better way to eat healthily is to be aware of what and how much you consume on a daily basis. Once you have an understanding of your typical eating habits, it’s much easier to see where adjustments and improvements should be made. - Save spare change
Spending zero money for an entire month sounds pretty fantastic but is it actually reasonable? What happens when you’re faced with an unexpected charge? Do you start over or give up? Disappoint yourself or lie to yourself? Instead, I suggest you switch tactics. Anytime you get change back from a purchase, save it! At the end of the month or year, crack open your money box and see how much you have!
Tip: you can do this electronically as well by transferring spare dollars and cents to a savings account. - Take short walking breaks
Getting exercise in the winter is hard. The urge to hibernate under a pile of warm blankets and not move until spring is almost too much to resist. Still, physical activity is vital to our overall health. If you sit at a desk most days, be sure to stretch your legs for at least 5 minutes every hour. - Meditate
Your mental state is just as important as your physical health so make sure you’re focused on both! If you’ve never tried meditating before, there’s no better time to get started than right now. There are even a few handy apps that will make the process seamless for beginners.