It’s that time again. The pressure has stacked up. What will it be this year? A marathon? Or maybe a vow to never touch chocolate again?
January brings with it a fresh start. But it also packs on the pressure for the ultimate health and wellbeing New Year’s resolutions. And frankly, if we’ve learnt anything from 2020, it’s that things don’t always turn out as we think they will.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the expectations of January, we’re here with our top ten easy changes to give 2021 that manageable nudge in the healthy direction.
- Start your showers with a blast of cold. Research suggests that turning the water right down (and we mean right down) can improve circulation, cardiac function, lower blood pressure and reduce stress. Now that’s one powerful shower.
- Plate your meals backwards. We tend to put meat on our plates first, then the carbs, then the veg. This usually means that we leave quite a small gap for our greens to squeeze into and therefore eat fewer than we might. But if you reverse this process – and aim for half a plate of vegetables – you’ll be well on your way to a healthier diet.
- Put your phone charger in the living room, not your bedroom. Unplug from technology an hour before you go to bed. Now, this is easier said than done. But if you usually charge your phone overnight, then move your charger into a separate room – and keep it there. You’ll find you fall asleep faster and won’t reach to scroll first thing in the morning.
- Walk at least five minutes for every hour of sitting. This can be tricky if you work at a desk – at home or in an office. But set reminders and add it into your pre-existing tasks like walking to the furthest bathroom and placing your printer in the room that’s furthest away from you.
- Look after your gut. Our guts are absolutely crucial for overall health. If you’re wondering where to start, add some kefir to your breakfast, some sauerkraut to your lunch and some bone broth to your dinner a couple of times a week.
- Make reading part of your day. Anyone else set themselves a ludicrous reading challenge last year and wonder why they never even got close to their target? Well, it’s not often that the perfect moment of calm to take out a book arises. Instead, build reading into your day in a place it makes sense. Maybe half an hour as soon as you wake up or 15 minutes at lunch time.
- Switch milk chocolate for dark chocolate. Simple, but really effective for lowering your sugar intake.
- Reduce screen time by five minutes a day until you reach your goal. Many of us are flabbergasted by our screen time reports each week. If one of your aims this year is to reduce the amount you scroll, don’t try to go cold turkey. Instead, shave off a little bit each day. You’ll be at your goal in no time.
- Drink a glass of water after every alcoholic drink. In fact, starting each day with a glass of water is not a bad idea either. When we’re drinking coffee, alcohol or tea, it can be far too easy to completely neglect good old H20.
- Stretch every evening before you get into bed. Ever stretched for approximately two days in a row and wondered why you’re not as supple as anything? Yep. Stretching a bit of a commitment – so find a few you enjoy and do them consistently. You can thank us later.
