NEW YEAR, NEW YOU!

What changes should you actually be making to your lifestyle for a healthier, happier 2019?

“New year, new you". We hear it every year but do any of us actually stick to those changes we so optimistically set out to do in January. I don’t know if it’s down to people being way too ambitious or whether in fact people don’t take the time to think about what it is in their life that really needs changing. For this reason, without going too over board, we’ve put together some New Year’s resolutions to get the ball rolling. These resolutions are guaranteed to make your lifestyle not only healthier but happier and above all you’ll be able to stick to them for the whole year.

With “exercise more” or “lose weight’ being the most common resolution lets start with that. These goals are vague and only set you up to fail a few months down the line. This year be SMART

• Specific - What do you want to accomplish?
• Measurable - How much, how many?
• Achievable - Is this realistic?
• Relevant - Is this the right time? Am I the right person to do this?
• Time based - When?

For example, instead of “I want to exercise more” say you want to run 5km, twice a week for the next 3 months and increase your time by 30 seconds each week”. This way you can stay focused and motivated to stick to your goal.

Next up on the list is diet. The word diet to many screams, low carbs, low fats, intermittent fasting, vegan the list is endless, when in actual fact the word diet is actually defined as “the food that someone habitually eats”. So, ditch the FADS and make these slow and steady adjustments to your diet and this will help to keep you on track all year round.

• Reduce your sugar intake
• Eat more vegetables
• Eat lean protein
• Cut down on processed foods
• Increase your wholegrain consumption
• Incorporate healthy fats into your diet
• Incorporate pre and probiotics into your diet
• Drink more water (at least 3 litres)
• Cut down on the booze

Cut down on screen time. Your alarm goes off - you check your phone, you’re on your commute - you check your Instagram, Facebook, and all the apps in between. You arrive at work - you stare at your computer screen all day. You go home - you switch the TV on and when you go to bed you either grab your kindle or your phone for some bed time reading.

Screens have become a staple part of our day to day life and this can have a negative impact on us. Not only does the blue light they emit affect our sleep pattern, but we spend so much time staring at them that we miss what’s going on in the world around us. This year make a conscious effort to buy an alarm clock, read a book and put your phone in your pocket!

Be more conscious of the environment especially your plastic usage. Let’s face it we all know about how damaging plastic is for the environment, but you would be amazed at how little is being done to help solve this matter. If you adopt these simple hacks, you alone will be making a significant positive impact and if that doesn’t make you feel good then I don’t know what will!

• Buy a reusable plastic water bottle- you can buy one here.
• Buy a reusable plastic bag for all your shopping
• Buy a reusable coffee cup
• Stop using plastic straws

Last but not least spend more time with friends and loved ones. This may sound like the easiest one but for many it’s actually the most challenging. Hectic schedules can leave us feeling disconnected and lonely and with studies showing that we are happier when we are surrounded by the people we love, all the more reason to make friends a priority. This doesn’t have to be meeting up at a bar or going out clubbing, this could mean meeting up for a walk in the park, going to the gym together or simply talking on the phone. Make 2019 the year you reach out to people and build new relationships.

New Year resolutions are the chance for us to change for the better. Surround yourself with people that want to support you with your goals and above all take the pressure off, enjoy yourself and the rest will follow suit.

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