The New Year has come and gone. As we make our way through the start of the year, it can be all too easy to let the resolutions that we made back in December start to slip away. The days are short, the weather is awful, and sometimes we need a lot of help from our comfort foods and bad habits to get us through the day. In short, it’s not really surprising that so many people find that their new year’s resolutions are tough to keep.
But now is the perfect time to start thinking about some new resolutions and putting some plans into action. Rome was not built in a day, after all, and if you really want to be getting into some better habits, it is always going to be a much better idea to make sure that you have thought them through carefully and given yourself the proper groundwork that you can build from. Here are some of the best post-new year’s resolutions that everyone should be thinking about as we head further into 2023.
Start Getting Into Better Shape
This is always one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions, and it can be one of the hardest to keep. Who wants to head out for a jog before work on a cold and wet January morning? But one of the main reasons why resolutions regarding fitness can be so tricky to keep is that people set themselves unrealistic targets. If you have not been exercising much at all and you suddenly expect to be able to run a marathon, then you are going to be disappointed.
The best thing to do is to set yourself a goal that you can manage. Even if it is just getting out for a brisk walk once a day, this is the kind of thing that you can work from. You should also think about what kind of exercise you enjoy doing. Don’t force yourself to go to the gym if you have never felt comfortable there, for example, and a lot of people are giving it up anyway to save money. Jogging, running, cycling, and even paddle boarding are great options. If you are not sure where to start, why not think about talking to a personal trainer? They will be able to create a fitness plan for you based on your current levels, the amount of time that you have in the day, and your targets.
Start Eating Better
Following on from the point above, it can be very tricky to give up junk food and creature comforts when you are tired and stressed, and the weather is miserable. Getting into better dietary habits can be a long and difficult process, so you need to carefully plan your approach. To start with, look for recipes that are healthy and also look good to you. You’re much more likely to keep eating better if you like what you are eating.
When it comes to unhealthy snacks, this is also going to take a little planning. A good approach could be to find healthier equivalents of your guilty pleasures. If you have a sweet tooth, then why not think about getting some dried fruit? If you prefer crunchy, salty treats, then investing in some rice cakes or other healthy snacks is a much better option in the long run. Remember that you should make sure that you have plenty of healthy snack options within easy reach, so you are not tempted to reach for the biscuits.
Start Going Greener
Going greener is going to be on a lot of people’s lists of new year’s resolutions this year, and it can be one of the easier ones to let slide. One of the main reasons for this is that climate change is such an enormous issue that it can be tricky to know where the best place to start is. What can one person do in the face of such a massive problem? Well, it is a cliché, but the fact is that every little helps. The more that you can do to keep your carbon footprint down, the more you will be helping to offset the bigger issue.
You can start small by making sure that you are recycling everything properly, you can think about replacing the meat in your meals with vegetarian options, and you can think about how you can find a more environmentally friendly option when it comes to your car. A lot of people out there are switching to electric cars, and there is far more choice than there used to be, which means it is a lot more affordable too. If you don’t want to invest in buying an electric car, why not think about leasing one? It is just like renting a car, except that you can have it for years at a time instead of a few days or weeks. This electric car guide to leasing breaks down everything that you need to know. LV ElectriX can help you get to grips with the essential elements to help you to make the right decision for you.
Start Taking Your Physical Health More Seriously
It is a fact of life that as we get older, we need to work a little bit harder to give our bodies the support that they need. It means that we need to get a lot more proactive when it comes to getting checked for serious health issues. There are a lot of illnesses and conditions that people need to keep an eye out for.
For example, heart disease is still the biggest killer worldwide, and there are a lot of changes that you can make to your lifestyle that will help you to avoid it. It is estimated that around one in every two people will experience some form of cancer in their lifetime. While there are things that you can do to put yourself at a lower risk of developing cancer, one of the best things that you can do is to get checked regularly. You stand a much better chance of successful cancer treatment if you can catch it early enough. If you are not sure about what you should be doing, talk to your GP. They will be able to give you the advice you need when it comes to changes to your lifestyle and regular check-ups.
Start Taking Your Mental Health Seriously Too
Finally, something that everyone needs to get better at is keeping an eye on their mental health. It is easy enough to say that you need to give yourself more time to yourself, and that you need to take more breaks, but one frantic week can leave all of those good intentions in the dust. If you have been struggling and you want to take better care of your mental health, then think about what simple steps you can take first.
Try to find some time in the diary that could be just for you, and make sure that you keep it that way. Reach out to your friends and family to talk about how you are doing. If you are burning out at work, as so many people are, then talk to your boss. You should also think about talking to your GP or looking at therapy. There are so many different options out there and you do not have to go through this alone.