For every woman, the goal of being healthy is undoubtedly at the top of her priority list when she wakes up in the morning. This New Year’s Eve, just before you bring in 2022 with a big bang, don’t forget to set your personal goal for being healthier in the coming months.
Health can be affected by many things, including genetics and the care we take of ourselves. There is no way to avoid getting sick completely, but what you can do right now is be proactive and set a goal for yourself that will help you maintain your health and wellness all year long.
So many women get lost in their hectic lives without giving themselves regular time blocks to focus on their own health. It might be the first thing you put off in the morning before you get out of bed, or perhaps it’s one of those last-minute items at night that gets tacked on to your to-do list, but either way, putting your own needs for wellness and self-care last is not a good idea.
So this New Year, make it your goal to be proactive about your health and wellness.
Exercise
The first item on your list should be exercise. It has been shown repeatedly that regular physical activity helps you sleep better, boosts energy levels, elevates moods, strengthens muscles, improves heart health (which results in strong, healthy blood flow), and decreases stress levels. Exercise can also help to alleviate many common body aches and pains, such as arthritis pain.
Regular exercise is not only good for your body, but it’s also imperative in maintaining a positive mindset, which in itself helps improve mental health. If you’re having a particularly rough day or feeling down in the dumps, try taking a walk or jog in the park. The endorphins released during physical activity will help lift your spirits while increasing blood flow throughout the body, which can even make you feel more positive about other things in your life.
Any kind of exercise is good for you, but if you’re trying to lose weight (which is often an ongoing quest for many women), try to focus on weight training rather than cardio (like jogging). Cardio burns calories while you’re doing it, but weight training helps tone muscles, raising your metabolism. That means the more toned muscles you have, the easier it will be to keep off that extra weight!
Drink More Water and Healthy Tea
Cutting back on caffeine is also a great thing to concentrate on if you’re trying to improve your health. Caffeine can cause the body to produce more cortisol, making it more difficult for you to lose weight. An excellent alternative to drinking soda or coffee might be switching to water flavored with fresh lemon or lime. Both are natural detoxifiers that will help your body get rid of toxins more quickly.
Another alternative to caffeinated drinks is to switch to tea with health benefits, like green tea or matcha. Green tea, in particular, has many antioxidants that help protect the cells in the human body from damage and disease.
Swapping sugary drinks for water or green tea can help you lose weight, improve your skin tone, and make your nails stronger.
Treat Your Body Well
While you’re setting up healthy habits like drinking more water and making regular time for working out, don’t forget to show your body some love by eating more nutritious food that will help it function at its best.
Trading your favorite fast-food sandwiches for healthier choices, like salads with lean meats and veggies, will not only decrease your weight but will also increase the number of vitamins and nutrients your body gets daily. And that means you’ll have more energy which means you can work out more often!
Last but certainly not least—don’t forget to schedule regular checkups with your doctor. There’s no better time than the New Year to start taking those preventative steps towards a healthier lifestyle.
Seeing your family doctor for checkups and medicine prescriptions is also a good idea. Many women only go to a doctor when they’re already ill, which can be a mistake. Getting regular checkups from your doctor helps to catch any problems before they become serious, which can save you time and money in the long run.
Final Thoughts
The last thing you want is to reach the end of this list without having done anything about your health, so make sure that one of your New Year’s resolutions is to focus on taking care of yourself in a more proactive way.
By the end of January, you’ll be well on your way to having an overall healthier lifestyle, and by the end of 2022, you’ll find yourself looking and feeling better. Don’t wait until it’s too late to make positive changes.
