Although there is no hard and fast rule that the new year has to be a fresh start for everyone, it’s a nice time when everyone feels more motivated than usual to make healthy changes. With others also working towards specific goals, it definitely puts you into the right mindset to start implementing changes of your own as well.
Health and well-being is usually a goal in one form or another for everyone, and for a good reason too. Your health is perhaps one of your most important assets, and if you can ensure that you keep that in as healthy shape as possible, then everything else will follow, including both physical and mental health. Even if you feel like you’ve missed the new year’s ‘deadline,’ we’re here to assure you that that is certainly not the case! To learn more about some easy healthy habits to start now, keep reading below and see how you can make 2023 your best health year yet!
1. Getting Adequate Sleep
You may have heard this repeatedly. However, it is still one of the most neglected aspects of health and a common factor that is very easily overlooked or sacrificed as ‘not so important’ or something you can ‘catch up’ with.
Ideally, you want to get an adequate amount of sleep in terms of the number of hours (which will vary depending on your age), and for most adult men, that means around seven hours of sleep. But it also means that you should aim to sleep at roughly the same time every day for your body to create a routine and know when it is time to start winding down.
Healthy nighttime routines aren’t just simple habits for your peace, they are also telltale signs for your body that it is time to start winding down at the end of the day.
2. Journaling
You may have heard of this before but never thought about implementing it yourself. Journaling is a practice that you can very easily fit into your daily routine, even if it’s five minutes at the beginning or the end of the day, and it is beneficial for your mental health.
Journaling has meditative properties, and it can help ground you no matter how stressful or busy your day may have been. The best part is that it is extremely customizable to whatever you wish to journal. Whether it’s gratitude, thoughts and feelings, tracking habits, or to-do lists for the following day.
3. Getting Fresh Air
We understand that everyone’s schedule is different, and it may not be possible for everyone to spend an hour or so at the gym daily. At the very least, though, we recommend that you try your best to get fresh air every day.
You may decide to start walking to work, even if it’s half of your journey, or simply taking a walk around the block, but doing it intentionally and making it a point to do so every single day will do wonders for your health and is both physically and mentally beneficial.
4. Eating Well
Eating well doesn’t mean that all you eat are vegetables or that you restrict yourself from the foods you love or think are ‘bad’ for you. Rather, your approach towards food should be one in which you strive to have a balanced diet – a bit of everything.
Restricting yourself or only allowing yourself to eat what you enjoy on ‘cheat days’ is actually counterproductive and can do more harm than good. Instead, you should be conscious of what you eat and try and ensure that you have balanced meals throughout the day.
5. Read Consciously
Another great hobby to pick up for the new year is to start reading more consciously. This may have been a hobby you once had a great love for in earlier years, and there’s no time like the present to rekindle that love!
Not only does reading have stress-relieving properties, but it also has many other benefits. Becoming more well-read helps you become more learned as an individual and allows you to retain information more efficiently. And with so many different genres to choose from, you could decide to jump into a fantasy world or pick up something for self-development!