With the end of 2023 coming closer and closer with each passing moment many of us are starting to work out our New Year’s resolutions. Some of us have very specific goals such as a goal to drop 15 lbs by the end of February. For others, the goals are more vague, such as wanting to be healthier. But of course, being healthier can mean different things for different people.
For some health is all about physical fitness and diet, it’s about making sure your body is at its best from a physical standpoint. For others health is more about mental state, it’s about having a healthy and sharp mind as well as good control over their emotions. There is also a wide range or spectrum between these two ideas of health.
Whether you are looking at it from one perspective or the other, or you are somewhere in between the two, let’s take a look at some of the healthy habits you can start to integrate into your day-to-day life as you start off the new year.
Physical Health
Your physical health is worth your time and effort. But, you don’t need to commit to a strenuous routine that’s hard to maintain. Instead, make your goals fun and achievable with these tips.
Walk More
Of course, this can be rather subjective, especially when you are unsure of how much you walk in the first place. You could get a pedometer, or download a step-tracking application onto your phone. Or you could simply make a rule about having to walk or drive. For example, you could make a rule for yourself that states if it takes you less than 3 minutes to drive to a place unless you are picking up an abnormally large amount of stuff, then you can walk there. Or perhaps a self-imposed rule that states that you need to walk 1-2 laps around the local park a day.
Try Out a New Sport
Sometimes going to a gym can be hard for a variety of reasons. Such as a lack of confidence, a lack of accessibility, and simply the fear of being made fun of. However, when it comes to exercise and making it enjoyable, many find that trying out a new sport is a great way to help with one’s physical health and help them make new friends. There are a wide variety of sports and games to play with even more being made every single day, all with different forms of and levels of gameplay and impact. You could do something as simple as finding a group of people to ride bikes within the park, or go just a bit more complex and form a team to play tennis with. These are only just a couple of sports out of the many you can find yourself enjoying.
Follow Along with Radio Taiso
Radio Taiso is a form of morning calisthenics that is extremely popular in Japan. It is a series of exercises that is made to exercise the entire body within 3 minutes, and without any equipment being used. It is just high impact enough for everyone to feel the positive effects of the exercise, but low impact enough to where the very young, elderly, and even those with disabilities can also participate in the exercises. If you have played the aerobics mini-game in the Animal Crossing New Horizons Game, then Radio Taiso shouldn’t be anything new for you.
Food and Dietary Health
Eat What You Want and Add What You Need
This stance on eating is something that has been gaining a lot of traction in the positive and healthy eating communities. As food is a way of life it is something that is meant to be enjoyed and should be treated as such. This method of eating also takes care of cravings that could lead to binging episodes later. So if you want some chocolate as a snack, go ahead and eat some chocolate, but you will also benefit from adding some fresh fruit to the plate as well as a couple of pieces of cheese.
Take a Closer Look at Your Relationship With Food
Does food make you feel a certain way? Do you feel like it’s overly negative or even overly positive? Having a good relationship with food means that you should feel comfortable with it within reason. You should not feel the need to gorge yourself every time you want to have something to eat. You should also not feel as if you need to starve yourself to feel any form of self-worth. There is no good or bad food, as food cannot and should not have moral values attributed to them. Each time you sit down to eat, think about your relationship with food and how you can continue making it a positive one.
Keep a Food Journal
When some think of food journals they tend to think of weight and calorie tracking, and while this is a reason to keep a food journal it is not the only reason to keep one. Many people end up keeping food journals to help keep track of when they eat and drink, as well as the feelings and physical experiences they may have after eating.
For example, you may find that you get sick after eating a certain dish and may never be sure of exactly where that ill-feeling comes from. If it’s macaroni and cheese you may suspect the milk is what makes you ill, however, it can just as easily be the pasta that is causing issues. By tracking your experiences with food by writing it down you will have a better chance of keeping yourself healthy in the future.
Mental Health
Here are a few tips to maintain your mental wellbeing throughout the year.
Take a Break From Social Media
Social media can be a great tool to help you stay connected with friends and family members. However, it can also be a source of anxiety, paranoia, and overall mental exhaustion as well. Taking a break from social media or only allowing social media for short periods not only allows you to give your mind a rest and focus on other things but it also keeps the world around you interesting as well.
Make Human Connections
There is nothing that quite compares to the mental and emotional benefits we get from connecting to other people one-on-one. Even if you are an introvert at heart, make time to get out and around other people from time to time. You might make some friends or even forge a romantic connection. Here’s a bit of dating advices, combine this tip with the next to find someone who enjoys the same things that you do.
Dive into a new hobbydating advice
While a good hobby isn’t going to cure any mental ailments or troubles you may have, it can and will help with giving you a set routine. Finding a hobby that is right for you can give you a newfound purpose in life, and can help especially if you suffer from mental illnesses such as depression, or anxiety.
Your Health Deserves Your Year-Round Attention
If the new year motivates you to make some healthier changes, that’s great! However, you can implement these healthy steps at any point, and maintain them throughout the year.
