Focus on Your Overall Well-Being
Every year, as the ball drops on New Year’s Eve, millions of Americans make a promise to be different—better, healthier, and happier—and yet very few actually stick to his or her resolutions (we just shared some ways to achieve (and stick with) you resolutions). One reason for this may be that our resolutions rarely address our overall health or well-being—a sustained feeling of harmony, energy, safety, and peace.
Resolutions like “lose ten pounds,” “learn a new language,” or “quit smoking” are perfectly reasonable goals, but they each only address a small part of our health or well-being. It’s not just our weight, diet or new skill that creates health and happiness; there are numerous other ways to live a healthier, more well-balanced life in 2023. Here are our top 10 tips.
1. Be active
Adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. Consider a studio or team training class.
2. Eat Healthy
Studies show that substituting natural foods for processed ones will bring you multiple health benefits. Healthy eating is a way to feel great, increase energy levels, and stabilize moods. To set yourself up for success, start out by making small changes to your diet, adding new items, and eliminating processed food one at a time.
3. Take time to enjoy your meals
It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to know when your stomach is full. You can consume a lot of extra calories in 20 minutes, especially when you are eating fast! Try different ways to train yourself to eat slowly. Chew each mouthful 10 times. Put down your utensils between bites. If you’re with others, take breaks to focus on the conversation.
4. Don’t skip meals
When you go without food for longer than three or four hours, your blood sugar drops. This can lead to overeating and feeling too tired to be active. Instead, stick to a regular schedule of three healthy meals and two snacks each day.
5. Clean your hands properly and often
Did we really need to include this? After the last couple of years, this should now be second nature. Clean hands can prevent the spread of infectious illnesses.
6. Get involved in your community
Our community may feel like it’s something that exists outside of our personal domain, but the lives of those around you deeply affect your own. Consider getting more involved with your community in 2022 by volunteering or getting to know your neighbors. A strong community in the gym or around your home will in turn foster the well-being of individuals. Consider what you can do to facilitate well-being. At FITNESS PROJECT, you can join them on several community initiatives or volunteer opportunities.
7. Practice optimism
Give yourself the gift of optimism. Make a choice to notice and appreciate what you have rather than what you don’t. Remember that no matter what the situation, how you perceive it is up to you. See the opportunity instead of the problem; you (and those around you) will benefit.
8. Know Your Purpose
Knowing our purpose in life calls us to examine our gifts, passions, and values, as well as the way that we can serve the needs of the world. Our purpose is where we find meaning, and it can improve our physical health, lengthen our lives, and improve our relationships with others. For many people, finding purpose is an ongoing process throughout life, so do a check-in with yourself every once in a while and adjust your purpose accordingly. FITNESS PROJECT was built to help others achieve their purpose, stop by a club and find out how the team can assist you.
9. Meditate
When talking about health, it’s not just about your physical health, but also about your mental health and meditation is the best way to achieve that. Including meditation in your New Year fitness plan not just helps you gain a healthy mind, body, and soul, but also will help in overcoming New Year fitness challenges that you may face as time proceeds.
10. Practice gratitude
Gratitude means feeling thankful as well as expressing thanks and appreciation. And there is more to gratitude than meets the eye — practicing gratitude can have a positive effect on all areas of your life: physical, mental, emotional, and even social! Research has shown that individuals who regularly practice gratitude experience many benefits like lower stress and improved sleep.
Now give yourself a big pat on the back. Take time to feel proud of every healthy change you make in your daily habits. Feel grateful for the new skills you learn. Admire yourself for your efforts and dedication. You deserve it!
