11 Healthy Habits To Start The New Year Right
We all know that this is the time of year that New Year’s resolutions are top of mind. And look, I don’t have a problem with resolutions at all. But I do think that there are ways we can improve our health and wellness that will actually be long lasting, rather than short lived.
Check out this post HERE on how to keep your New Year’s resolutions if you’re struggling with your new goals.
While it’s great to want to better ourselves, it’s also important to remember that you’re already pretty damn wonderful exactly as you are, okay? Don’t lose sight of that.
Try to make goals from a place of love, rather than self-loathing. That’s important when it comes to creating true healthy habits. Afterall, when we talk about health, that’s not only referring to our physical bodies. And it’s certainly not only referring to the way our bodies look.
Our mental and emotional health is just as important as our physical health…heck, maybe even more important. It’s hard to say, because they’re all connected. Either way, it’s vital that you look at yourself holistically, and choose to work on yourself from the inside out in order to create sustainable habits and change.
Today’s post will be all about focusing on 11 healthy habits to start your new year the right way, because even if you don’t want to make a resolution, you can still add these tips into your daily life in order to feel as good as possible.
Learn more about how to habit stack HERE as you work on forming healthy habits in the new year.
Healthy Habits To Start The New Year Right
Now that we’ve established that when we talk about health and wellness on this particular corner of the internet that we’re not only talking about our bodies and appearances, we can really dive into the good stuff.
That’s not to say that our bodies don’t matter, nor that you shouldn’t care about how you look. You do you!
Think of it as an important reminder that you are more than your body and your looks, instead.
Intuitive Eating
Forget crash dieting and radical restriction this new year, and say hello to intuitive eating. Intuitive eating isn’t a diet. It isn’t about what you can or can’t eat. Or what food is good food or bad food.
Nope, intuitive eating is actually about undoing all of that diet culture jargon, and getting in touch with your body’s natural rhythms, cues, and signals so that you can eat from the most loving way possible.
Learn more about how to get started with intuitive eating with this post HERE.
Check out the intuitive eating book from the founder Evelyn Tribole HERE.
Move Your Body Lovingly
There’s a big difference from moving your body lovingly, versus moving your body every day because you feel like you ‘should.’ Learning how to move lovingly can be just as challenging as learning how to eat lovingly, but I promise, it’s worth it once you get there.
This new year, I want to challenge you to move from a place that celebrates your body, rather than punishes it. This doesn’t mean you can’t challenge yourself, or push yourself, or sweat your ass off sometimes. It just means you choose to move in a way that tells your body I love you, instead of I hate you.
Learn how to move your body lovingly HERE.
Set Intentions
If you’re a yogi, then you’re probably familiar with intentions. And if you’re a yogi who’s familiar with my classes, then you’re definitely familiar with intentions, because they’re apart of all of my classes.
Creating an intention for your day, your week, or your month is a great way to give yourself direction and focus as you move throughout your life. Think about it, you’re making a million and one choices on a daily basis. If you have an intention, you’re able to make these choices with more clarity and ease.
Learn about the art of doing nothing HERE.
Create Positive Affirmations
Look, I know that positive affirmations can sometimes sound a little cheesy. But the truth is, they freaking work. I swear.
You can create affirmations silently that you use while you meditate. Or, you can write them on sticky notes and put them on your mirrors or walls. Get creative with your affirmations, and remember to create them from a place of love.
Check out the 5 Minute Journal to get inspired with your positive affirmations.
Go Outside More
I swear one of the healthiest things we can do for ourselves is to go outside more. Yes, even if it’s freezing. And yes, even in cities where the nature isn’t exactly *abundant.*
It sounds weird to say, but literally imagine you’re a smoker who needs to step outside every few hours. Only, other than smoking (which is obviously not so healthy), you’re just taking some deep breaths of fresh air. Or hey, maybe you’re repeating your positive affirmations to yourself!
Learn how to get grounded in this post HERE.
Get Quality Sleep
Another free resource that radically boosts our overall well being is getting quality sleep. Look, I know this is a luxury for new parents, or people who have to work multiple jobs, or people who live in a loud building. There are plenty of factors that are out of our control when it comes to sleep.
However, doing your best to get quality sleep is definitely something that can improve your health. See where you can carve out more time for good sleep in your week, and prioritize it.
Learn more on how to improve your sleep quality HERE.
Reduce Your Screen Time
Ugh, screen time can really be the death of me, I swear. And it’s hard when you work remotely…let alone when you work online, or work on social media.
Screens are all around us, and they’re seemingly impossible to avoid. So, I’m not suggesting you throw them out altogether. Just work on being mindful of how often you’re zoning out while staring at them, and maybe replace some of that screen time with outdoor time, instead.
Learn how to turn your iPhone or iPad screen red in this post HERE.
Create Healthy Boundaries
Boundaries protect us. They protect us from ourselves and from others. And they’re something we can instill in all of the relationships in our lives.
Going to therapy can teach you how to create boundaries for everything from social media, to within your marriage or your friendships.
Learn more about the importance of therapy in this post HERE.
Reduce Your Scrolling
There’s something so mind-numbing about scrolling yourself into oblivion, isn’t there? Don’t get me wrong, I definitely do it, too. And honestly, sometimes I even enjoy the numbing out, when I’ve been super stimulated all day.
For this one, I want you to remember that I’m just suggesting that you reduce your scrolling, not eradicate it altogether. Why? Because giving up scrolling for good probably won’t happen. And breaking those promises to yourself will only reduce your confidence, rather than build it up.
Learn more about how to build confidence HERE.
Start Meditating
It’s no secret that meditation is like the secret ingredient to all things health and wellness. Not only does it help your mental health, but it also does wonders for your emotional and physical health, too.
Don’t forget that meditation doesn’t have to be done perfectly still, dressed in all white, levitating off the ground. Honestly, it can look however you want it to. In fact, it can even be done in movement, not only stillness. Just as long as you show up and do the damn thing, I’m happy.
Learn to meditate with me.
Learn more about moving meditations HERE.
Prioritize In-Person Connections
I’m an introvert through and through, but even I can say that in-person connection fills me up way more than online interactions. And that’s not to say that online friendships are gratifying, because they absolutely can be. Especially when online is a safe space you don’t have in person (like my fellow queer friends out there).
However, do your best to bring your relationship offline and into the real world in order to create deeper, more fulfilling relationships in your life. Take time in your week to talk to real people, in real time, rather than only existing through the phone. Plus, this will help you reduce your screen time, too. Bonus!
Let me know which one has been the most helpful healthy habit for you in the new year in the comments below.
I’m rooting for you, my friends!
xx,
K
