Written by:
Stevie Deale
We can all agree that this year has been unprecedented and we’ve all had to learn to adapt to new situations quickly. In light of this, we’re looking forward to the new year and the hope that comes with it. After this year, resolutions are the last thing we need, we’ve managed to make it through a pandemic, and that in and of itself is something to celebrate. Instead, we should try to make simple goals that can be implemented into our lives easily and will only improve them. We have a few suggestions for you below!
Meditate
Wake up 10 minutes before you usually would to meditate and help center yourself for your day. It has been proven to reduce stress and help calm us down. Some studies have shown that breath exercises can reduce inflammation within the body. In a study done by Harvard University, researchers scanned the brain while meditating and found that there were significant changes in the physical state of the brain over the course of two months (1).
Unplug for the hour before bed
This year has left us all relying on our screens more than we usually would have, which can have a negative impact on our sleep. The blue light from devices mimics the light of the sun and can disrupt your circadian rhythm (2). One study found that playing a computer game before bedtime disrupted REM sleep and made sleep latency extremely longer than the control group (3).
Introduce supplements
A balanced diet and exercise are the best way for us to be healthy, but we might not be able to get all of the nutrients we need with that. That’s where supplements come in, they can help to support your health in a myriad of ways. There are probiotics for optimal gut health, multi-vitamins and mineral complexes to aid rest and recovery and immune-boosting compounds all to help you feel your best in the new year.
Commit to moving
It may be a stretch to commit to working out more than 3 times a week, so start small and just commit to going for a 30 minute walk once a day. It’s been shown that even something as simple as that can have enormous benefits for your overall health. It can “increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and boost muscle power and endurance. It can also reduce your risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers,” (4).
Nourish yourself and your home
Something that a lot of us have learned this year is how important it is to find small things to enjoy. It’s important to do at least one thing every day that makes you happy, whether that’s lighting a candle so your space feels cosy, using an essential oil blend to balance and anchor yourself, or taking a luxurious bath once a week. Try writing in a thankfulness journal or eating a piece of dark chocolate, just do something that makes you feel good every day and next year is certain to be better than this one.
References:
- https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/04/harvard-researchers-study-how-mindfulness-may-change-the-brain-in-depressed-patients/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3047226/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16120101/
- https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/walking-for-good-health#:~:text=Just%2030%20minutes%20every%20day,diabetes%2C%20osteoporosis%20and%20some%20cancers.
