Starting the new year with a new goal can be hard and especially in these challenging times having motivation can be difficult. Specifically, when it comes to being healthy, albeit mental, physical, or both.  Exercising is the number one resolution of the new year. Sometimes people overlook the mental benefits of physical activity. Here are some tips to help you exceed your resolutions. 

Change your eating habits – Start shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables. They can have a more positive effect on your body. Eating fresh food leads to many positive outcomes, rather than fried and processed foods which can lead to heart disease and other risky health defects. 

“When some people ‘go clean’ they cannot believe how much better they feel both physically and emotionally, and how much worse they then feel when they reintroduce the foods that are known to enhance inflammation,” said Eva Selhub a contributing editor from Harvard Medical School.  

Drink more water – Our bodies are made up of around 60% water. Our bodies lose that water through sweat and going to the bathroom. Water helps your digestive system. By drinking water, you replenish the important fluids in your body that help you function on an everyday basis. Without drinking the suggested amount of water you can become dehydrated. 

“Being dehydrated throws off the delicate dopamine and serotonin balances in the brain, natural chemicals that can increase/affect depression and anxiety,” said Mass Public Health Vlog.

Get enough rest – The suggested amount of sleep for a human is around 7-8 hours. Getting less than the recommended sleep time could put you at risk for health problems in the long run. Sleeping for 7-8 hours every night can help boost your mood and have a more positive outcome on your mental health.

“Chronic lack of sleep can also raise the chance of having a mood disorder. One large study showed that when you have insomnia, you’re five times more likely to develop depression, and your odds of anxiety or panic disorders are even greater. Refreshing slumber helps you hit the reset button on a bad day, improve your outlook on life, and be better prepared to meet challenges,” said Brunilda Nazario from WebMD.

Meditation – Meditation is a great way to calm your mind and reset it in the beginning of something new. Exercising for the first time can be nerve-wracking, teaching your brain new ways of calming yourself down can be really beneficial. Meditation increases your focus, tolerance of pain, and your physical health. Meditation also reduces stress. Having a lot of stress can build up over time and cause one to be unmotivated. Because of the stressful time we are in right now, being motivated to do anything can be difficult. Trying meditation may help you regather yourself. 

“Repeating a mantra — such as a word or phrase — during meditation can also have a calming effect, and by concentrating on your mantra, you’re able to shift your focus away from distracting thoughts,” said Erin Heger, a freelance journalist from INSIDER.

Positive affirmations – Daily reinforcements are a great way to stay in a positive mindset. Affirmations are positive reinforcements that help you overcome challenges or negative thoughts. Having negative thoughts can easily set you back from doing the things you love.

“Self-affirmation may also help to mitigate the effects of stress. In one study, a short affirmation exercise boosted the problem-solving abilities of ‘chronically stressed’ subjects to the same level as those with low stress.” from Mind Tools.

All of these are great ways to start off your new year, because of the times we are in, exceeding a resolution can be difficult. But, I hoped these tips helped!