Well, it’s that time of year again, New Years’. Everyone knows the old saying: “New Year, New You!” Instead of making all of these outlandish New Years’ resolutions, implement these 5 super easy tips for a healthier physical and mental you.
1. Leave Your Baggage Behind
You have enough going on in your life to worry about; you don’t need any extra baggage. Whether it be toxic relationships, bad habits, or clothes that went out of style years ago that you’re still trying to bring back. LET IT GO (as Elsa would say). If you want 2016 to really be YOUR year, then you have to reflect on what brought you down in 2015, and leave it there. It might be hard and feelings might get hurt, but it’s time to focus on YOU this year!
2. Drink LOTS of Water
Your body is a well-oiled machine, except maybe not so well-oiled if you’re not providing it with what it needs to keep going. Of course a healthy diet would be ideal: the perfect balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats while still managing to incorporate fruits and veggies. But this isn’t fake life, and sometimes In N’ Out is the only one that knows exactly what to say to make us happy. So just make a small change, and drink that water! It is said that a healthy amount of daily water intake is your body weight in ounces. So, if an individual weighs 150 lbs., he or she would need 150 oz of water. Water keeps your skin nice, fills you up so you don’t have to eat as much In N’ Out, and gives you energy. Why wouldn’t you want to drink it?!
3. Be Active
Being active doesn’t necessarily mean running 10 miles every day. Unless that’s something you want to do, then I fully support you on that. Being active can be as simple as walking to class instead of taking the tram. Or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Or walking down the beach instead of just lying there all day. Or bringing a ball to the beach and playing catch. Or maybe it’s hosting nightly dance parties in your apartment. Whatever it is that can get you up and moving, DO IT. Exercise is great for your body and mind. And it doesn’t take that much to stimulate your muscles. A little activity each day can make a drastic difference in your life.
4. Laugh More
I know for me, personally, this past year consisted of lots of mental breakdowns, tears, and failures. I constantly focused on the negative and just kept digging myself into an even deeper, darker hole. If it wasn’t for my amazing friends I wouldn’t have made it through 2015’s gruesome obstacle course. That being said, the greatest lesson my friends taught me was to laugh more. Laughter is, and always will be, the best medicine. Any situation, no matter how seemingly horrible, can be made better with some good old- fashioned chuckles. Try to approach 2016 with a more optimistic view. When a wrench gets hurled in your plan, don’t get so down and out about it. Find the good in the situation, and laugh all the bad and negative stuff away. Use that positive energy to retaliate and come back with an even greater, stronger outcome than you had originally planned.
5. Love Yourself
You’re great! Flawless! Incredible! Brilliant! Powerful! Fabulous! And totally capable of accomplishing whatever it is you’re striving for. As Hilary Duff once said in A Cinderella Story,” Don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” Don’t let the setbacks of 2015 hold you down in 2016. Never forget how gifted you are. And NEVER stop believing in yourself. Sometimes, life can be tough. It’ll knock you down. And then kick you…hard, right in the face. You can’t ever stop being your own cheerleader. If you’re not even on your own team, no one else is going to want to be on your team either. In 2016, start appreciating and LOVING the uniqueness you, and only you, possess.
2016 is YOUR year! Go out there with your healthier self, and rock it.
