Every new year arrives with the desire to begin anew, to do things better and make improvements in the way we take care of ourselves and those around us. It’s a fresh start, and even though some changes will fall by the wayside by February, some will stick and you’ll reap the rewards of the positive changes you’ve made in your life!
Eat a Healthy Diet
Everyone chooses “lose weight” as their top New Year’s resolution and this often includes drastic changes that deprive you of food until you give up and go back to your old ways of eating. Instead, focus on making healthy choices with your food. Greatly reduce your intake of processed foods and instead choose whole grains and green veggies. Start planning your meals and snacks ahead of time so you’re not tempted to grab a candy bar out of the snack machine in the afternoon or stop for fast food at the end of a long day. Giving your body the nutrients it needs while keeping out excess fats, sugars, and inflammatory-causing foods like gluten, soda, processed meats, fried foods, and fast foods, will help it fight off disease and be healthier.
Exercise More
This is another popular resolution and it’s one of the first ones to get left behind. Instead of getting a gym membership that you’ll use for a month, choose walking instead. It’s recommended that you get in 10,000 steps a day to maintain a healthy lifestyle. You can track this with a FitBit or similar device or there are many free apps you can get for your phone to track them, you just need to keep your phone in your pocket. The best part is that you can do this anywhere―at work, the mall, the grocery store, or wherever your day takes you.
Reduce Stress
No matter where you live or what job you have, life is full of stressful situations. There’s really no avoiding it. You can, however, counteract its effects. Learn to leave your work at the office, limit your exposure to toxic people who cause you stress, and look for ways to relax. Yoga is not only a great workout for your whole body but it’s controlled breathing is calming and melts away stress. Small things like taking a few quiet minutes to yourself or reading a good book are also helpful ways to calm your nerves.
Be More Present
Americans spend a lot of time thinking about the past and the future. Sure, they both have their value. We need to learn from the past and plan for the future. But these things tend to take over and we forget all about the present. The present is where our loved ones are. Take the time to appreciate your present time with them.
Practice Self-Care
Self-care is the act of taking care of your mind, body, and spirit. For most people, it’s natural to put others first, whether it’s children, friends, or co-workers, we do what we can to meet their needs while leaving our needs behind. Your needs are important too and when we take the time to care for ourselves, we are in a better place to help others.
Self-care should include doing what you can to improve your body’s health. At North County Pain Relief, we offer a natural, drug-free approach to healing and put the health and well-being of all of our patients above all. Call us today at (314)731-4201 and see how chiropractic care can help boost your immune system, treat headaches, and deal with the aches and pains that come along with life’s stresses. A better you awaits!
