The onset of the new year is the perfect time to get a fresh start and turn your focus to making healthy improvements, day to day. All too often, people forget that even the most impressive of health transformations have to start somewhere, and that the little steps can be the most important gateway for making major changes later down the line. To start simple, here are 12 health tips that you can easily make a habit out of in 2022!
1. Set some goals
When it comes to new year’s resolutions, it’s critical to set goals that are actually achievable. Resolutions that are too vague are much harder to stick to, no matter how good the intentions that lie behind them are. Instead of saying “I want to get work out more”, create a specific goal - such as running 5k every Saturday, or something you know you can realistically make part of your weekly routine.
2. Keep a diary
Progress becomes a lot easier to manage when you keep good track of it. Keeping a diary helps you to identify your patterns over time, making it far easier to spot areas in need of adjustment. Whatever area of your life you’re hoping to improve - whether it be nutrition, exercise, or mental well-being - journaling is an excellent tool for creating lasting improvement.
3. Drink more water
This advice may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people still allow themselves to suffer from dehydration! Investing in a decent size reusable water bottle that you can carry around helps to make sure you always have a drink on hand when you’re feeling parched.
4. Cut down on toxins
Even the best of us have our vices. Whether it be caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine, the key to cutting out harmful toxins is to start from where you’re at. If going cold turkey proves too difficult for you, try practising reduction over time - start by halving the quantity you consume on a weekly basis.
5. Cook more often
Cooking helps to keep you aware of exactly what it is you’re using to fuel your body. Having full control of your nutrition and portions is a simple trick to limit the amount of unknown additives and calories that can sneak their way into your diet.
6. 10 minutes stretching
Starting each day with even just 10 minutes of stretching is a simple yet effective way of keeping the body limber, strong, and flexible throughout the day. There are heaps of tutorials online to help get you into the habit of daily stretching.
7. Reduce screen time
Reducing screen time doesn’t have to mean casting your devices aside completely, but putting in a conscious effort to replace unnecessary scrolling with healthier hobbies such as exercise or reading can have a great impact on mental wellbeing and sleep hygiene.
8. Increase exercise
One of the major reasons why people fail to follow through on their new exercise regimes is because they go from a sedentary lifestyle straight to an intense workout regime. Rather than make the jump from 0 to 100, exercise plans should always be tailored to what’s right for you. Try slowly upping the number of sets, reps, or kilometres you factor into your workouts for sustainable and achievable progress.
Why not start by choosing a standing desk? Just press a button, you can achieve a healthy working style of sitting and standing alternately. You may enjoy the freedom to move during your workday with a height-adjustable standing desk, making the day appear less hectic and enabling more productivity. While reducing your metabolic risk, you will burn more calories and feel more invigorated.
9. Reduce salt intake
One easy tip for improving your health in the new year is to try to cut down on salt! Many of us don’t realise how addicted we are to salting our foods, but consuming too much sodium can impair the body’s ability to process nutrients. Try to ease off the salt shaker at each meal for a quick and easy health boost.
10. Make times for family and friends
Living a healthy life is about more than just taking care of your physical wellbeing, but also about treating your mental wellbeing with ample care. Taking enough time to spend with family and friends keeps you grounded and supported throughout life, and social interaction is shown to have a hugely positive impact on mental health and the prevention of degenerative diseases such as dementia.
11. Get a check up
Going to the doctor’s office is one of those things that most people like to kick down the road until they have a genuine reason for concern. However, especially as we get older, regular age-appropriate general check ups can make all the difference when it comes to catching those harder-to-spot conditions. Going regularly for a check up ensures that you’re staying on top of your physical wellbeing, and will catch any causes for concern before they develop any further.
12. Treat yourself once a day
Giving yourself something to look forward to is a great way to keep your spirits high, improving your overall mental and physical wellbeing. One simple trick you can use to boost happiness and motivation is to make sure to treat yourself once a day. This could be anything - from enjoying a nice meal, taking a relaxing walk, or catching that new film you’ve been wanting to see - treating yourself with kindness is key to de-stressing the body, and tackling all the negative health impacts that come with living under stress.
With 2022 ahead of us, it’s the perfect time to readjust any bad habits that have formed due to the stress of the past few years. Making these small but achievable adjustments to your day to day life is a foolproof plan for boosting physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing!
