For a lot of people, the start of a new year raises questions about how they can improve and enhance the life that they lead. And, for many of us, this means thinking carefully about the parts of our lives that we can take steps to change, with a common area of focus being on our health and wellbeing.
Often, this looks like starting the new year on a health kick, which could include anything from starting a regimented workout regime to following a highly restrictive diet with a certain weight loss goal in mind. But, the truth about these kinds of health kicks is that, in the long run, they can negatively impact your health and wellbeing.
So, instead of making health all about weight loss, like obsessing over losing a stone, it’s far better for you – and your physical and mental health – to take sustainable steps towards a healthier and happier lifestyle. Honestly, you’ll feel far better for it – and by not setting overly-restrictive or punishing resolutions, you’re more likely to actually meet your goals and sustain them in the long term.
Wondering what some healthy resolutions that you can actually stick to in 2023 could be? Below are some simple suggestions for sustainable ways you can improve your health and wellbeing in 2023.
Even if it’s just for 10 minutes a day, walking can help to improve your circulation, boost your mood, and make falling (and staying) asleep easier. Plus, brisk walking can help to improve fitness and aid weight loss.
If you haven’t walked in a while or feel like you lack the fitness for longer sessions, one of the best things that you can do is to start with short five=minute chunks, slowly building up to longer walks as your fitness and confidence improves.
Spending too much time sitting down is bad for your health because our bodies aren’t designed to sit constantly for hours at a time. Studies have shown that people who sit for extended periods of time on a daily basis are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and breast, colon, and colorectal cancer.
To reduce your risk and increase your health, set a timer that encourages you to stand up every 25 minutes for two to three minutes. Alternatively, if you have a fitness or smartwatch, you can use that to set reminders for stretching your legs regularly throughout the day.
If you aren’t getting enough sleep, it can have a detrimental effect on your health and wellness; it can even increase how prone you are to catching things, from coughs and colds to stomach bugs and the flu, in addition to boosting your chances of developing a range of health conditions, from obesity to depression.
The benefits of getting plenty of sleep are clear, but what steps can you take to improve and enhance the amount of sleep you’re getting? Thankfully, there are plenty of steps that you can take to improve the quality and quantity of sleep that you’re getting; these include reducing pre-bedtime screen time, ensuring that your bedroom is well-ventilated, creating a comfortable and cosy sleep space that’s limited of distractions, and setting a sleep schedule that you can stick to.
A great activity for aiding general wellbeing is gratitude journaling. Taking five minutes out of your day to write down what you’re thankful for can make a big difference to your happiness and attitude.
Whether it’s the little things that you’re grateful for, such as seeing the birds in the trees or the larger things, like having a job that you love or a family that’s always supporting you, journaling can help remind you not to take things for granted and to always be grateful for what you have.
Exercising isn’t just about looking after our physical health; there are a number of benefits of exercise for mental health in addition to physical health. While all physical activity aids mental health, there are some forms of exercise that are primarily wellness-based, such as stretching-based activities like yoga and Pilates.
For aiding calmness, this kind of physical activity can be extremely beneficial. By making a habit of starting or ending your day with some gentle movements or a virtual (or in-person) yoga or pilates class, you can give your health and wellbeing a boost.
If you want to lose weight in a way that’s safe, healthy and sustainable but feel like you will struggle to achieve results on your own, you might find that attending a weight loss clinic could be beneficial.
Instead of attempting to diet and lose weight on your own without support, attending a weight loss clinic that offers a carefully curated program that’s built on medical expertise, and offers excellent psychological support and care as part of the program, could be an option that’s worth considering.
By choosing a program that offers an easy-to-follow diet that’s also sustainable, you can make accountable changes that will help you to build a healthier lifestyle that lasts.
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