Top 7 healthy living resolutions to make this year

I’m not one of those people who can jump right into the ‘new year, new me’ mindset on the 1st. I usually need time to recover from the holidays and I strongly believe in reviewing the previous year before I make any decisions about the upcoming one. But, it’s officially the first week in January, so  it’s about time I sat down and came up some Healthy Living Resolutions to rock the next 12 months.

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I’ve already talked about my plans for working out more and eating more veggies, but today I wanted to share the rest of my healthy living resolutions with you. These resolutions are going to look a lot like the ones I said NOT to make last year. They’re broad, not very actionable and pretty vague. But there’s a reason for that.

This year I’ve changed up my goal setting process a bit. Instead of just setting a few actionable goals, I’m setting a few broad ones which I’ll then break down into smaller goals. I’ll share more details about the new process in my subscriber-only Goal Domination workbook, so make sure you’re on the mailing list so you can download your copy.

 Top 7 healthy living resolutions you need to make this year

1. Drink more water

To me, staying hydrated is one of the cornerstones of healthy living, even more important than eating well or working out. The effects of dehydration include things like muscle cramps, low blood pressure and even kidney failure. Not things anyone wants to experience.

But even knowing that I feel like I have ‘drink more water’ on my list of goals ever year and never really get it right. My actual goal is to consistently drink at least 8-10 cups of water a day and right now I’m hovering around 5. Definitely not where I need to be.

Short term goals for drinking more water:

• Drink 2 cups of water as soon as I wake up on a morning
• Drink water with every meal
• Track daily water intake

Related: 8 tips for staying hydrated

2. Get more sleep

I’ve always known and respected the importance of sleep. I was that kid who reminded my parents about my bedtime and fell asleep by 7 pm no matter where I was. But as I got older and life got more interesting at night, my sleep patterns deteriorated. Since sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain, hallucination, depression, moodiness and more, I’m extremely motivated to get more sleep this year. 

That being said, sticking to a consistent sleep schedule is not going to be easy. Especially since I have very few ideas for monthly short term goals for this one. Working on it, though!

3. Be more organized

I am probably the most Type B person you’ll ever meet. Things like making plans and scheduling tasks for the day in advance are not second nature to me. I much rather going with the flow and doing things whenever the mood strikes. But as of right now, I work from home and I need to be more organized in my day to day life. 

Short term goals for getting organized:

• Fill out monthly calendar on the last day of previous month
• Check day planner/calendar every morning 
• Use a daily to do list

Related: How to set yourself up for a productive week, 4 Top 4 apps for organization and productivity, 5 tips to help you work from home effectively

4. Stay active

We all know the benefits of staying active and fit. But like most things, being active is easier said than done. I maintained a pretty active lifestyle for over a year, working out 4-6 times a week. But last year I probably went to the gym 4-6 times a month, if so much. I already spoke at length about my fitness slip ups in 2015 so I won’t get into that here.

But I just wanted to let you know that I get it. It’s hard. Most days, I don’t even want to get out of bed, far less make the trek to the gym. This is probably where I’m going to spend the most time, but hopefully, I’ll see the most reward.

Short term goals for staying active:

• Take the stairs instead of the elevator (within reason)
• Walk instead of driving or busing when possible
• Workout 3 – 4 days a week

Related: 5 tips to help you enjoy working out more, 5 types of apps that make every workout epic

5. Eat Healthier

When I first started my foray into healthy living, I followed a very strict “clean” diet. Before that, it was hard for me to find the willpower to stay away from sweets and I felt like that was the only option. Since then, I’ve relaxed my restrictions quite a bit, to the point where I can feel myself slipping back into the no willpower zone.I definitely don’t want to go back to super restricted eating, but I know that I need to make some changes before my healthy eating goes the way of my fitness last year. 

I definitely don’t want to go back to super restricted eating, but I know that I need to make some changes before my healthy eating goes the way of my fitness last year. 

Short term goals for eating healthier:

• Find and make one new healthy food substitution a month (e.g. oats instead of breadcrumbs)
• Discover or try one new veggie a week
• Have at least one vegetable with every meal

Related: 

6. Use more natural beauty products

I’m usually very conscious of what I put into my body, but until recently, I didn’t really care about what I was putting on it. We slather stuff like creams and makeup onto our bodies and faces without stopping to consider the effects they can have on us.

Makeup and other cosmetics can have side effects ranging from headaches to skin diseases. Not worth it in my opinion, especially when there are natural alternatives for a lot of them, both homemade and store bought. So 2016 is my year to transition to a more natural makeup and skincare routine.

Short term goals for using more natural beauty products

• Replace one makeup product a month with a natural alternative
• Do one skincare DIY a month

Related: DIY Coconut Oil Night Cream, DIY PSL Coffee Lip Scrub

7. Relax more often

I’m from the Caribbean, relaxation is in my blood. But the last 5 years of studying, working and constantly being on the go have taken their toll. My stress levels are always incredibly high and I tend to get overwhelmed by the simplest of tasks.

At first, I thought that my lack of organization was to blame, but the problem is that I have no down time. I don’t work a regular 9-5 and I’m almost always blogging or doing freelance work, even well into the night. But hat needs to stop. I need to find time to relax and decompress.

Short term goals for relaxing more often:

• Disconnect from electronics at 10 pm
• Set specific work hours and stick to them
• Do one non-electronic related activity per day (other than working out)

Related: 5 tips to help you relax without feeling guilty, 5 habits of Caribbean people that help them relieve stress

What about you?

• What are your healthy living resolutions for the next year?
• Did you accomplish the ones you set last year?
• Any tips for actually achieving the goals your set?

Share in the comments below!

 

 

 

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