10 Keys to a Healthier Lifestyle

A little more sleep and exercise with a little more fruits and vegetables is a very good start to better health

A new year brings new promise. It brings hope and a desire to better ourselves. The trouble with resolutions is that we often don’t follow through and succeed with them so…

1. Ditch resolutions

This year, be bold and ditch the New Year’s resolution. After all, what we do every day matters more than what we do once in a while.

2. Identify the areas you need to strengthen for long-term health

It’s also about having a positive attitude, a positive self-image, taking care of your mental health and spending time with friends and family. So, before you enter into a commitment to begin a healthier “you” in the New Year, decide which areas you desire to strengthen. Begin with your top one or two areas and work down your list.

3. Know what works for you

What situations did you find distracting? What kept you from sticking with your goals? Whatever your goals are, before you can make changes to your lifestyle, you need to know where you’re starting from and understand your reasons for making changes. Know what works for you and what doesn’t.

4. Disrupt and change unhealthy habits

If you’re in the habit of exercising every morning, that’s good. If you’re also in the habit of buying a bag of chips and a soda every afternoon, that’s not. You need to look for ways to disrupt the patterns of unhealthy habits and establish new patterns, while continuing with your healthy habits. Start making small daily changes. Pack healthy snacks to take to work. Carry a refillable water bottle with you so you can stay hydrated throughout the day.

5. Make small, powerful changes

Don’t try to make huge, sweeping life changes all at once. Start small and build. Try walking around the block for 10 minutes when you get home from work. Or even just doing a five-minute workout in your living room. Whatever it is, start doing it on a daily basis. If you have a setback, don’t beat yourself up; just go back to doing what you were doing. The goal is to create habits that feel easy to achieve.

6. Build a life that blends work and fun

The concept of finding balance often forces us to make concessions. Instead of focusing on the boundaries where your work life ends and personal life begins, look for ways to blend the elements of your life. Focus on making consistent, healthy, positive choices that reflect your values, responsibilities and goals across all the aspects of life.

7. Eat a healthy diet

As the saying goes, you are what you eat. The meals and snacks we consume have a direct impact on our health. Even if you’re a healthy weight, making sure you eat a nutritious diet is important to your long-term health. You don’t have to give up all things yummy and fattening, but practice portion control.

8. Get enough quality sleep

As the saying goes, you are what you eat. The meals and snacks we consume have a direct impact on our health. Even if you’re a healthy weight, making sure you eat a nutritious diet is important to your long-term health. You don’t have to give up all things yummy and fattening, but practice portion control.

9. Manage stress

Our world requires us to live in a highly active and pressurized environment. Activities in our lives occur so fast it’s often a struggle to keep up. You can reduce and manage your stress by taking control of the things you can control. You can also engage in relaxing therapies such as meditation and breathing deeply to help you manage feelings of stress.

10. Slow down and reflect on the moment

Many of us are so focused on our jobs and everyday tasks that we forget to enjoy the moment we are experiencing. Pause throughout your day and appreciate the beauty of the world around you, the sound of laughter, how the sun feels on your face, how your legs feel as you walk. Make time to enjoy each part of your day, and then step back and enjoy the process you are a part of.

The business world is systematic and requires constant innovation and analysis — it’s focused on the final product. Learn to enjoy each step of this process. Doing so will contribute to your product’s overall success, and will make the final outcome much more enjoyable.