Wellness Resolutions You Should Keep This New Year

It’s that time of year again!

A new year often signifies a fresh start for many people.  For some, this means setting health goals, such as losing weight, following a healthier diet, or starting an exercise routine. Maintaining physical health is important, but we shouldn’t neglect the other areas of our life that make us whole healthy beings

However, more often than not, the health and wellness resolutions chosen are highly restrictive and unsustainable, leading most people to break their resolutions within a few weeks. This is why many people make the same resolutions year after year.

Let’s take a look at some of the different life aspects that we should address to maintain healthier more rounded life

Our Emotions:

Emotional well-being is about finding happiness in your daily life and routine. It’s closely linked to spiritual wellness, but with more focus on acknowledging and managing your emotions. Support your emotional well-being by finding joy in the little things, living in the present, and seeking help when you need it.  Try to bring awareness into your daily routines, like noticing your breath by taking time while eating to enjoy your meals, opt for walking when you can. Practice gratitude by calling a friend or a relative.  Take a mental a mental health day, if you’re feeling helpless, seek therapy. This is your life, and you control your happiness.

Our Self Compassion:

How many times have you heard successful people say that they failed or were rejected a hundred times before they got to where they are now? We often become our own drill sergeants in pursuit of our goals. Which actually mostly makes us end up feeling afraid of failure and ready to sort of rebel as soon as we get the opportunity. Self-compassion actually increases our motivation because we’re not as prone to procrastinate on our goals.

Our Intellect:

For some, this one may sound intimidating, but you don’t have to start applying for grad schools to work on your intelligence. Find something you’ve always wanted to learn more about, pick a book or an audiobook or you can watch a documentary. Tune into a few new podcasts on your long commutes. You can also exercise your creativity (paint, color, take up macramé). Intelligence comes in many different forms—find what inspires you, and go for it.

Our Presence:

Resolve to be more present by intentionally limiting screen time.

A lot more people self-report feeling depressed, anxious and lonely So, resolving to limit your screentime in the new year is tricky — it might be the only way you’re able to feel connected with people while you can’t see them in person. But you can approach your devices more intentionally. If you’ve had an entire day of Zoom calls for work, maybe a Zoom happy hour isn’t what you need that day. Resolve to be open and honest about your social needs with your circle of friends and listen to your body when it tells you need a break from your screens. And if it’s Netflix, Hulu or Disney+ that’s eating all your time? Simple: Take a break. You can always re-subscribe later if you really miss them that much.

Our Physical Health:

It’s easy to get caught up in trying to lose weight, especially during the new year. But having a body that carries us each day is a gift in and of itself—we should be taking care of it, not punishing it! Rather than thinking about dieting to lose weight this year, try to shift your mindset on exercising and eating a well-rounded diet to better your mental health, increase your overall energy and live a longer healthier life . We only get one body, and it’s essential that we treat it well.  

Our Social Life

Whether you’re a social butterfly or you’d be happy interacting on a lower profile, we all could use a little community. This means something different for everyone, so don’t worry if you’re not hosting the party every weekend. If you’re a creature of habit, find a way to fit others into your routine. It could be as simple as calling your mom on your commute, grabbing coffee with a coworker each morning We are social beings. Our connection with others makes up a crucial part of our overall well-being So call your friends, make plans, and connect this new year.

So make it simple for 2022, your resolution is simply taking a deeper look at yourself and taking better care of yourself in the simplest most basic aspects of our lives.