When you think of starting the New Year, what is a common topic that one generally thinks of?  New Year’s resolutions, right? Whether we want to lose weight, exercise more, reduce stress, or get more sleep… we are determined to improve our life in some form.  We can cover some ground to get you started and obtain some healthy habits for 2021.

Where to start?

First of all when you are making any changes always start small.  Try to avoid creating lofty goals that will discourage you in any way.  For example, if your goal is to drink more water every day.  Start your day by drinking one glass of water before you treat yourself to your coffee. Once you create that new habit – start slowly adding in another glass before lunch.  Again once that becomes a habit you can then add in more throughout the day – say a glass before each meal or snack.  As you continue on this path you will find it easier to get to your goal with these small steps.  Remember, any step forward, big or small is still progress.

Here Is A Small List Of Healthy Habits That Can Make A Big Impact 

Sleep – A good starting point is to get enough sleep.  How much sleep is enough? Well according to SleepFoundagion.org, adults should be getting 7-9 hours of sleep each night.  If you do not know how much sleep you are getting, start by taking notice.  Write down when you go to bed and when you wake up – do that for a week.  Then go back and see where you can add in 30 minutes and build from there to get to that 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night.  Look here for more healthy sleep tips.

Exercise – Get moving every day.  There are so many benefits to our health and well-being when we exercise every day.  Generally, you can gain more focus, feel less stressed, and sustain a healthy weight.  What is the right amount of exercise to keep you feeling good?  Everyday Health has some guidelines to follow depending on your goals. Remember to start small – if you don’t exercise every day, add in a 15-minute walk here and there. Keep moving!

Eating Healthy – The benefits of eating healthy are basically endless.  We can improve our heart health, mood, gut health, memory, reduce our risk of cancer and more.  What are some steps we can take to obtain better eating habits? The American Heart Association offers some helpful tips to get you going in the right direction. Again, you can make small changes so it is not so overwhelming.  Say you generally have a burger with fries on Friday for lunch – instead replace it with a hearty soup and a side salad.  Changing that one not-so-healthy meal that you have every day into a healthy meal can make a big impact.

Manage Stress – We can manage stress in multiple ways.  Some of us have a hobby that allows us to escape.  Or maybe you like to meditate to start the day.  Whether you write in a journal or allocate tech-free time – all these things help to reduce stress and anxiety.  Find one that works for you.

Well Women Care – Early detection of any health-related problem is key to increasing your odds of beating any disease.  Plus, for women, your monthly self-breast exams and your annual pelvic exams with your doctor are so important.  Make sure you have your exam scheduled.

Be kind to yourself by taking the steps in the right direction to live a healthy lifestyle.  It really doesn’t have to be big changes to make an impact and if you take steps in the right direction, reward yourself for achieving that goal – just do so in a healthy way.  

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