Another year has come to an end, and the time has come to think about your goals for the one ahead. How did you do in 2018? Many people have goals they’d like to reach, but not everyone is able to meet them throughout the year. If you weren’t able to meet all of your goals last year, don’t worry – that doesn’t mean that you can’t make 2019 a different story. The trick is to make the changes in question small enough that making them doesn’t throw off your lifestyle all at once. Let’s take a look at some of the small lifestyle chances you can make in 2019 that will have a big impact.
- Carve Out Some “Me Time”
Life can be busy, especially once you’ve hit adulthood. Whether you’re raising a family or pursuing a career or education (and anything in-between), you might have find yourself with little time to yourself. It’s natural to be consumed with your daily tasks. It’s equally normal, however, to eventually become fairly stressed as a result. You – your body and your mind – need some down time to relax and refresh. Make it a point in 2019 to take some time for yourself every day that is solely devoted to you. This can be ten minutes or two hours – whatever you can fit in your day. But make it consistent and don’t worry about anything other than you during that time.
- Walk More
Getting enough exercise is an important task for many reasons. Maintaining a healthy weight, of course, is vital to a long and happy life. But “exercise” can feel like a chore to many. If you’re one of them, why not consider walking a bit more? Walking doesn’t have to feel like “exercise”. You don’t even have to go to a gym! Pick your favorite park (or sidewalk) and just start moving. You can use this time to listen to your favorite podcasts, music, or just the sounds of the world around you. In fact, walking can double as “me time” if you enjoy it. It’s an activity that will help you improve your health, lose weight, and feel better about life in general.
- Be Mindful of Your Emotions
Stress is a common emotion that has detrimental side effects. In fact, chronic stress can actually increase your susceptibility to certain diseases and disorders. It’s important to monitor your moods and get to the bottom of what is causing you unhappiness or stress as quickly as possible in order to stay healthy and enjoy your life. With that in mind, don’t ignore your feelings this year. If you’re upset, figure out why and confront the issue head on! Make 2019 your happiest year yet.
- Drink More Water
You can almost never have too much water. Our bodies require water to function properly and drinking plenty of it is helpful in improving our overall health. As an added benefit, adequate amounts of water can even help clear up your skin and aid in losing weight! There are plenty of great reasons to make consuming more water in 2019 a worthwhile goal to work towards. You can make it easier by using a water bottle and keeping track of how many times you fill it.
- Set a Bedtime
Finally, getting enough sleep is vitally important to your mood and health. With that in mind, set a bedtime that allows you as much sleep as possible – preferably between seven and nine hours, but no less than six. Consider investing in a quality mattress to help ensure you get uninterrupted sleep, too! Understanding your sleep position and how it might impact your sleep quality is also a good goal to work towards.
