New Year's Resolution: Get Healthy!
How Committed Are You To Practicing Healthy Habits This Year?
FEBRUARY 15, 2023 to MAY 3, 2024
Remember those dates! It can take between 46 and 488 days to develop a new habit with daily practice. Simply put, healthy habits improve your health and wellness.
☝Remember that starting new habits is easy - keeping that momentum going is where the challenge begins.
Start with something small and measurable.
- Drink more water vs. drink 12 cups of water per day.
- Exercise more vs. Take a 30-Day Burpee Challenge.
- Lose weight vs. lose one pound per week.
1. Exercise more.
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- Get an accountability buddy.
- See if your health insurance has any helpful resources.
- Join a challenge, such as the burpees challenge above.
- Create a group with your neighbors or coworkers.
2. Eat Fresh.
The benefits of growing your own garden far exceed the learning curve of starting it.
- Gardening reduces stress.
- Growing your own food reduces cost of groceries.
- Inviting people over creates a social aspect to enjoying your garden.
- Homegrown food tastes better.
- Eating your colors protects you against diseases. Can you say purple carrots?
This map on the USDA's website will tell you in what zone you are. You can then do a web search to see what grows well in your area and the best time to plant the seeds.
Your local universities can also be great resources of information. Harvard started their community garden back in 2010, a school that was founded in 1636!
3. Stay hydrated.
Water needs vary by activity level and overall health status. The University of Missouri provides an equation to help you calculate how much water you need.
Thirst and fatigue are symptoms of dehydration. When you feel tired, sugary foods and caffeinated beverages help increase your energy level. Can you see the vicious cycle at work here?
☝Remember to drink the standard eight cups of water per day.
- Drink 2 cups of water when you wake up, and then 2 cups with every meal = 8 cups.
- Drink 1 cup of water every hour while at work. 8 hours = 8 cups.
- Use it to help you quit drinking soda, for example. Every time you drink a soda, have water afterwards.
4. Get a Physical.
If it's been a while since you last saw your doctor, it may be a good time to schedule that visit. Making these healthy changes to your life benefits you in so many ways. Just be sure to do it with a medical team on your side.
5. Cope with Stress.
Let's face it! Life is better with a pet. Having a pet lowers stress and blood pressure. They help decrease loneliness and depression. How can a belly rub not make you laugh?!
There are many pets available for adoption at your local rescue shelters, so consider rescuing the very animal that will rescue you.
An added bonus to having a dog, if you so choose, is that they need walks. This encourages your exercise portion of this getting healthy journey.
Dogs have the ability of serving the needs of their handlers, human, pack leader, etc. They especially bring a greater level of security to their human with disabilities.
DISCLAIMER: If you are going to have a pet, please be aware of the commitment that it takes to have one. There is a time factor and a cost factor. Not to mention, pets get attached to their families. Giving them away makes them sad too.
Conclusion
Commit to getting healthy and stick to it!
If you have a bad day, the next one is right around the corner.
If today you're not feeling the carrots and hummus, have a 150-calorie bag of chips.
Forgive yourself and get back to the plan!
☝You can do this and you are worth it!
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