No matter the circumstances, prioritising your health—physical and mental—is non-negotiable. And, the good news is, it’s never too late to begin. Thus, if you’re looking to act now, here are some resolutions you should be making.
Mental Wellbeing
1. Devote time to your hobbies
It’s important to take out time for things you’re interested in. It not only helps you take a break from work or chores, but also relaxes your mind and rejuvenates you. Want to take up painting? Or maybe even start working on your coin collection? Love photography? Why not get started? And if you’re looking for some motivation, you could even join a club where you’ll learn new things and also interact with others who share your passion.
2. Consider therapy
Contrary to popular belief, asking for help is not a ‘bad’ thing,and it does not make you weak. If you feel like reaching out to a mental health professional to get a better understanding of how and why you’re feeling a particular way, go for it. It’s a myth that you must take help only when times are turbulent, it’s perfectly okay to take guidance from an expert on all matters of life.
3. Volunteer
Taking time out to help those in need is a great deed after all. Consider volunteering at orphanages, old-age homes, animal shelters, or even the various clean-ups that take place near you. When you work towards to the betterment of society and see yourself bringing about a change, however big and small, it is sure to make you feel better. It even leaves you feeling less stressed about things that otherwise occupy your mind.
4. Journal
Positive or negative, it’s a good idea to write your thoughts down. Sure, you may have friends and family you can talk to, but self-reflection comes from within. Make journaling a daily habit; talk about your day, how things affected you, something good that took place, among other things. You could also maintain a gratitude journal where you list out things you are grateful for every day. This way, when you reflect upon your entries later, you can see your thought patterns, and scenarios that have an effect on you.
5. Indulge in positive self-talk
When things don’t go your way, or plans don’t work out, it is completely okay to feel disheartened. It all starts to go downhill when you start blaming yourself. It’s alright if certain things don’t pan out the way you want to, but you mustn’t give up hope. Indulge more in positive self-talk, as it is only you who can make yourself feel better; try to not give into the negative though patterns. One way to go about this would be to stick post-its of positive affirmations (such as ‘I am deserving’, ‘I am loved’) in places where you can see them. Regularly seeing these words will help you imbibe them too.
Diet
1. Add more greens in your diet
Leafy green vegetables are an important component of a healthy diet. They’re loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fibre, and are also low in calories. Plan out a weekly chart of all that you want to consume to ensure that you are meeting your nutritional requirements.
2. Mindful eating
Apart from watching what you eat, watching how you eat is also necessary. Experts suggest that while eating, focus on just that. Don’t occupy yourself with your phones or television alongside. It is said that when you don’t pay attention to what you’re eating, you tend to have more than your fill, which can have long-term repercussions on your health.
3. Cut down on sugar
Excess consumption of sugar can lead to chronic diseases and health risks, such as diabetes. If you’re someone who cannot do without something sweet, gradually reduce the quantity of what you are used to, and replace artificial sugar with natural alternatives such as honey and jaggery.
4. Prepare meals in advance
Whether you’re looking to portion out your meals, or just want to save time when you get down to cooking, prepping your meal in advance can help. Not only do you have your meals for the week stored, it helps keep a track of how many calories you’re consuming.
5. Rethink your diet options
Social media is replete with various recommendations, be it fitness challenges or dietary alternatives. However, it’s imperative to understand that each body is different, and it’s best to consult a dietician/nutritionist to figure what works best for you, and can be sustained long-term.
Fitness
1. Head out for activities four times a week
A good physical activity does wonders for your overall health, and making you feel better. Experts suggest a good 30-45 minute physical activity outdoors at least four times a week helps you stay fit.
2. Build a fitness routine over a period of time
Instead of following a short-term fitness plan, which guarantees instant results, opt for those that lasts over a period of time and gives you a desired outcome. The thing with short-term plans is that you may reach your goals, but it is easy to fall back into your old ways and unravel all that you’ve worked so hard for. However, when you follow something long-term, your body gets time to adapt to it and showcase results.
3. Sit less, move more
A sedentary lifestyle leads to many health risks like heart diseases, high blood pressure, and even bone and joint issues to name a few. Hence, it is important to move around. For starters, try to take a 10-15 minute break to walk around and stretch yourself when you feel you’ve been sitting for way too long.
4. Maintain a workout journal
To help you keep a track of your fitness goals, maintain a journal where you note down all the exercises for the day and their time duration. You can have your own routine and switch up these moves as per your goals and to add some variety. This way you’ll also be able to see the progress you’ve made so far.
5. Try at least one challenging move every week
Challenging yourself is a great way to keep reinventing yourself. This holds true for fitness as well. You can start with trying one new or difficult move every week. For example, holding a plank, start training for a marathon, or trying a new form of yoga, and practice as much as possible. Once you conquer this, the satisfaction gives you a different high.