As the end of the decade comes to a close, many people are looking at how they can improve their overall physical and emotional well-being as they head into the year 2020. Rather than setting yourself up for New Year's resolutions that are destined to fail because of unrealistic expectations, it is more important to set goals that are attainable and that focus on the long-term. Here are five New Year's goals that provide a guiding framework on how to start this next decade out on the best foot possible:
Eat Healthier
The cornerstone of all healthy habits begins with what you put into your body. No amount of exercise will undo the consequences of a poor diet. In order to set yourself up for the most success, focus on taking baby steps as you start on your journey to better health. For example, instead of beginning a fad diet on January 1, make it a goal to eliminate one harmful food from your diet. Maybe for you, that means cutting out soda and replacing it with water. You will see greater long-term success if you create attainable goals that build on each other.
Get Moving
You can have the most nutritious diet in the world but still be out of shape. The perfect companion to a healthy meal plan is a regular exercise routine. Many New Year's resolutioners fail because they try to do too much too fast. You are not going to go from a couch potato to a triathlete without a lot of steps in between. Instead, start with a routine that you know you can maintain for the long-term. Mixing it up with different activities will also help you to avoid the inevitable boredom that will set in.
Alleviate Stress
While a healthy amount of stress is normal for a productive life, too much can wreak havoc on your overall health. Although you can never control all of the stress in your life, you can take steps to mitigate the effects that it has on you. As you approach the new year, be sure to have plans in place to help you to deal with stress in a healthy way. Ideas to consider include signing up for a regular yoga or meditation class, making plans with friends to take daily walks, and starting a journal to write down your thoughts.
Schedule Annual Well-Checks
One of the best things that you can do for your overall health and longevity is to be committed to practicing preventative medicine. This means that you need to schedule your annual well-checks so that you can avoid potential health issues down the road. While there is nothing sexy about that annual mammogram or colonoscopy, ignoring your doctor's recommendations can lead to deadly consequences down the road. At the beginning of the year, take a few minutes to sit down and write down all of the health appointments that you need. If your medical provider does not make appointments too far in advance, you can set a reminder on your phone to make the appointment when it is time. The hardest part of keeping this resolution is setting up the appointment. Making all of your annual check-up appointments in one day will keep you on track and prevent things from falling through the cracks.
Get Your ZZZs
Sleep is one of the most underrated elements of any health and wellness routine. All too often, people mistakenly believe that they can be more productive if they can just manage to cut corners on sleep. However, this approach is destined to backfire. Sleep deprivation can lead to a host of short-term and long-term health consequences such as diabetes, obesity, and more. In order to make quality sleep a priority in your life, consider turning off your electronics at least one hour before bed. You should also give yourself permission to take that long weekend nap. Sticking to a regular daily sleep routine is the best thing that you can do to ensure that you are getting that restful deep sleep that is needed to restore the body.
When it comes to reaching all of your 2020 wellness goals, it is important to remember that this is a marathon and not a sprint. Concentrating on these five areas will ensure that your body and mind are prepared to handle the adventures of 2020 and beyond.
