A fresh new year brings good reason for a bright, positive outlook. But those New Year’s Eve sparkles in our eyes can sometimes blind us to the reality of our lofty goals. Sure, it is totally possible to set a New Year’s Resolution to “lose weight” and actually be successful, but the chances of you sticking with that—just because it’s your resolution—are pretty unlikely. (That’s a pretty big goal to reach without a game plan.)
My advice?
Aim smaller, and be more specific.
It’s true that one healthy move promotes another. Choose one or more of these small resolutions below, and you’ll be setting yourself up to actual achieve your bigger health goals sometime not too far down the road.
Here’s to new happy, healthy beginnings!
healthy New Year’s resolutions
1. Drink an 8-ounce glass of water every morning and another before dinner.
2. Get outside to walk for 10 minutes a day.
3. Drink your tea or coffee without sweetener. Try it out. You’ll probably hate it at first, but your sweetness tolerance will drop as you get used to it, and it won’t be quite so bad.
4. Eat at least two servings of fruit every day and see how you feel.
5. Commit to not running into the grocery store without a shopping list. It will help you stay on track and not buy junk you don’t really want or need. You’ll save money and calories—double win!
6. Always park in the very last row. In too much of a hurry to park that far? Park there anyway and just walk faster.
7. Stop eating before you feel stuffed instead of after you already feel full.
8. Carry a reusable water bottle with you at all times and sip to stay hydrated all day.
9. Give up soda for a week and replace it with fruit or herb infused water, or make your own Kombucha.
10. Let yourself sleep a full eight hours for an entire week and see how you feel.
11. Try a new fruit or vegetable whenever you can. You never know when you’ll find a new healthy food you love.
12. Floss every day.
13. Honor meatless Mondays all year. Try this delicious Chick Pea Tikka Masala.
14. Make yourself healthy breakfasts like overnight oats—and make plenty of leftovers—so you’re not just reaching for what’s easiest in the morning.
15. Do lunges while brushing your teeth.
16. Focus on chewing your food longer. Research shows that slower eaters typically eat less, plus slower is better for your body.
17. Turn off all electronics a half hour before bed. Use that time to read or relax.
18. Don’t take escalators when stairs are an option.
19. Skip fresh friends and commit to ordering salad with your sandwich or burger. It’s a small improvement that can save you serious calories.
20. Sign up for a 5k, 10k, half marathon, triathlon, etc.—whatever will be a challenge for you. Signing up and paying now means you’ll have additional incentive to stick with your goal.
21. Sign up for a healthy cooking class and learn to make a few great new dishes.
22. Keep a food journal for a week and honestly track what you consume. It will help you identify areas of your diet you can probably tighten up without too much effort. Always give in to the free donuts at meetings? Scarf down a bag of snacks while
23. Make a motivational music playlist to help get you moving when you’re feeling sluggish.
24. Get rid of old workout clothes and sports bras that don’t fit. Treat yourself to a new outfit and see if that doesn’t inspire you to put it to use.
25. Write down everything you’re grateful for at the end of each day.
Also see, Lucky foods you should eat on New Year’s.
