The majority of New Year’s resolution made by American revolve around health and weight loss. Sadly, less than half of those who make such resolutions will keep them even a full month! This is often because we set goals that are unrealistic and unsustainable. This is why many of us make the same resolutions year after year, never really attaining our goals.
To break that cycle, it’s important to make resolutions that can not only improve health but also be followed for life. Here are some New Year’s resolutions you can actually keep.
CUT BACK ON SODAS AND SWEETENED DRINKS.
Cutting back on sweetened beverages is a smart idea considering that sugary drinks are linked to an increased risk of obesity, fatty liver, heart disease, insulin resistance, and cavities in both children and adults.
Though quitting sweetened beverages cold turkey is always an option, gradually minimizing your intake may help you kick your sugary drink habit for good.
GET MORE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Nothing changes your quality of life like physical activity. It reduces stress, improves your mood, and reduces risks of nearly every physical and mental condition you can think of.
You don’t need to join a gym, train for a marathon, or even work out for an hour a day. Fifteen-to-twenty-minute blocks of activity daily will do wonders. Whether is playing with your kids, going for a walk, or dancing in the living room, get up off the couch more this year than you did last year and see the difference it makes.
GET MORE QUALITY SLEEP
Sleep is an essential part of overall health, and sleep deprivation can lead to serious consequences. For instance, lack of sleep may increase your risk of weight gain, heart disease, and depression.
There are many reasons why people don’t get enough sleep, so it’s important to focus on your schedule and lifestyle to determine the best ways to improve sleep quantity and quality.
Decreasing screen time before bed, reducing light pollution in your bedroom, cutting back on caffeine, and getting to bed at a reasonable hour are some simple ways to improve sleep hygiene.
EAT MORE WHOLE FOODS
One of the easiest and most sustainable ways to improve overall health is to eat more whole foods. Vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and fish, contain a plethora of nutrients that your body needs to function at an optimal level.
Research shows that following a whole-foods-based diet may significantly reduce heart disease risk factors, body weight, and blood sugar levels, as well as decrease your risk of certain diseases, such as type 2 diabetes.
CUT BACK ON ALCOHOL
Drinking alcohol in excess affects the brain’s neurotransmitters and can increase the risk of depression or memory loss. What’s more, chronic heavy drinking boosts your risk of liver and heart disease, hypertension, stroke, mental deterioration, and even cancers of the mouth, throat, liver, and breast.
TAKE UP A HOBBY
It’s common for adults to let once-loved hobbies fall by the wayside as they get older due to busy schedules or lack of motivation. However, research shows
that partaking in a hobby that you love can help you live a longer, healthier life. Make a resolution to try out a hobby that you’ve always been interested in — or pick back up a hobby that used to bring you joy.
FOCUS ON RELATIONSHIPS
How you nurture personal relationships depends on you. Does it mean you add a weekly lunch with a friend to your schedule? Join a local club or sports team? Plan a monthly date night with your partner? Eat meals at the dinner table with your family more often? Make Saturdays family days without distractions? You decide, but don’t underestimate the importance of those activities to good health and well-being. The need for attachment starts in infancy and never goes away. Humans are social creatures. We are biologically hard-wired to form attachments. Nurture relationships.
Though most New Year’s resolutions are only kept for a short period, the healthy resolutions listed above are sustainable ways to improve your physical and emotional health that can be followed for life.
Creating a healthier relationship with food and taking better care of your body and mind can drastically improve your health in various ways.
This New Year, try out a few of the resolutions in this article to help make this year — and the years that follow — the healthiest and happiest possible.
At IntuneHealth, we provide proactive, preventative care designed to keep you healthy. IntuneHealth takes the hassle out of health care by giving you direct access to your primary care physician, a personal care team coordinating all aspects of your care, and an all-in-one app to manage your health. With virtual, in-office, and in-home appointments, access to care is conveniently available when and where you need it. Schedule an appointment today to meet your new partner in health.
Intune Health
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