NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS: BUILDING 15 HEALTHY HABITS THIS YEAR

New Year Resolutions: Building 15 Healthy Habits this year

After the eventful year that was 2021, this new year brings a glimmer of hope for all of us. Every new year is always accompanied by a sleuth of new year resolutions. For a new year resolution 2024, you might be confused about picking one which you can fulfill.

Each year, roughly 1 in 3 people take up new year resolution ideas to better themselves in one way or another. However, these resolutions are usually thrown aside within a month or two. New year resolutions are difficult to keep, mainly because we expect too much to happen too soon. The excitement and adrenaline of the new year often make us overestimate ourselves. Not only does this hamper our ability to fulfill the resolution, but it also brings feelings of failure, which are not conducive to a healthy mindset. If you’re looking to revamp your new year's resolutions 2024, we are here to help you! 

The past two years have taught us, more than anything, that our health needs to come first. And not just physical health; mental health is just as important. Therefore, as part of your new year's resolutions 2024, you should consider taking steps that can help you build a healthy lifestyle. Follow these tips to take a step forward in becoming the best version of yourself! 

1. Eat more nutritious foods

Healthy eating habits should definitely be at the top of your new year's resolutions. While most of us make a conscious effort to eat well, it is no secret that what we eat might not be that nutritious. As new year resolutions 2024, do make a point to research better into what you eat. Also, do start considering more healthy foods to eat every day and not ready-to-eat ones. Organic foods are a great source of wholesome nutrition that can actually help you. They are also great for sustainability!

2. Sit less and move more

This new year's resolution 2024 can not only be easily fulfilled, but it will also change your posture for the better! Due to our sedentary lifestyles, we often find ourselves at the mercy of pain killers to rid us of constant back and neck pains. To get rid of these pains, consider moving more between long sitting times. If you have a job that requires sitting at a desk for long hours, take mandatory walking breaks every few hours. Or, you can always consider artificial back support recommended by orthopedics.

3. Practice Self Care

Self-care is the ultimate exercise for catharsis. Make your new year's resolutions 2024 to invest more time in yourself and practice self-care. It can be developing a new skincare routine or taking the time to attend your favourite class. It can perhaps be your first step towards developing a healthy lifestyle that also focuses on your mental health.

4. Cut back on artificial sugars

We all love our sweetened beverages, but they certainly don’t make a healthy diet. They are associated with the risks of obesity and diabetes, and may even damage your heart health in the long run. For a healthy new year, cut back on artificial sugars and replace them with healthier alternatives. You can also try including more healthy snacks in your diet to cut the sugars out from there. 

5. Find a physical activity that you can enjoy

New year fitness resolutions involving promises of the gym are definitely some of the earliest ones to be discarded. For new year's resolutions 2024, find an activity that you will enjoy. It could be yoga, walking, or it could be swimming. To keep track of your physical activity and fitness goals, you can always rely on smartwatches and Fitbits.

6. Practice meditation

Meditation is a form of self-care that can boost your physical and mental well-being at the same time. It calms you down and gives you a fresh perspective on many things. It is a great hobby to pick up on and has a pretty low difficulty level for absolute beginners. Meditation is also effective in tackling anxiety and depression in adults. Therefore, do take up meditation as your new year resolution 2024.

7. Cut back on alcohol

Frequent consumption of alcohol can have negative repercussions on your health and may even stop you from achieving your healthy new year goals. Therefore, regular consumption of alcohol is a habit that you should ditch for 2024. Instead, start incorporating more healthy drinks to fit your healthy eating habits.

8. Be more sustainable

Sustainability is the need of the hour. However, sustainability has given way to ease of convenience in the last few decades. It has drastically affected not only our practices but also our health. Cooking is easily discarded for the time-saving processed foods, and so on. There are several such examples. However, as part of your goals for new year resolutions 2024, incorporate one practice that you can use to build a healthy lifestyle and be more sustainable around.

9. Avoid fix-it diets or exercise plans

Fix-it diets and exercise plans are not very useful. They just mask the problems and don’t address them. They also tend to be very harsh, so they are dropped quickly. Instead, reach out to professionals in these areas with your concerns who can help you curate a new year resolution for health and its benefits.

10. Be more mindful

Mindfulness and meditation are pertinent to self-care. Considering our busy lifestyles, it is natural to feel burn-out or zone out while working. However, it is crucial to be genuinely conscientious of the moments we are living in. Do take up a new year resolution 2024 that can improve your mindfulness and help you stay in the present moment.

11.  Limit your screen time

Unlimited screen time can not only influence our subconscious but also impact our sleep cycle. An unhealthy sleep cycle is extremely dangerous in the long run and can also cause premature aging, among other things. As a new year resolution 2024, limit your screen time and spend time on things you actually enjoy. You can also substitute it with spending more time with your family.

12. Use healthier household products

Now, more than ever, we understand how what we consume or use around us can impact our health. Take up a new year resolution 2024 to introduce well-researched products, with more informed opinions, into your home, and in your body. Focus on getting more natural personal care and home care products to create a more positive and healthy environment around you and your family.

13. Build a healthier and immunity-friendly diet

Our body and its immunity are the biggest protection against diseases and germs. With lifestyle diseases becoming more prevalent, our immunity needs to be stronger to prevent any such diseases and the harm they cause. One of your new year resolutions 2024 should definitely be to include more immunity-friendly products like vitamins, minerals, and supplements in your diet alongside natural produce.

14. Focus on ignored aspects of your hygiene

We often ignore many aspects of our hygiene, one prominent example being oral health. For new year resolutions 2024, do focus on oral health. Unhygienic oral cavities have been linked to many diseases, and this is one healthy habit you should certainly consider for 2024.

15. Be consistent in everything you do

Whatever resolution you choose will not come to fruition if you do not show commitment or consistency. Your best new year resolution for 2024 can be to develop a more consistent and practical approach to anything you take up. This is a practice applicable across all aspects of your life and can do wonders in improving your lifestyle, both physically and mentally.

Conclusion

The reason most of the new years resolutions fall aside is that they often go beyond the achievable limits. 75% of people dissolve their new year resolutions within a week itself. The key to not being one of them and standing steady for your new year resolutions 2024 is to decide on a more realistic goal. 

Depending on your checklist, set up a timeline for your new year goals. Make a well-thought-out plan with important milestones. Try aiming for short-term goals that can boost your habits and contribute to your well-being. Not only that, be highly consistent with whichever activity you take up. These are just some tips to ace that new year's resolution for health!

For any of your resolutions, you can find support in Wellness Forever, which can provide everything from supplements to organic produce to exercise training equipment, right at your doorstep.