The New Year is here, and as usual, we throw all of our good habits out the window. It’s not just healthy eating that gets dropped, we fail to exercise, we eat more junk food, and by the time the end of the year rolls around we need an overhaul.
While you shouldn’t wait for the new year to commit to your wellbeing, it is a good time to hit the restart button.
In the spirit of the New Year, I decided to share five ways you can renew your commitment to your wellbeing. I’m going back to basics.
1. Take a Moment
Your mind and body need rest just as much as each other. We are so connected today that even when we rest our body, our mind keeps going.
Whether you take a weekend off of technology or you disconnect for a few hours, there are a few other ways you can commit to your wellbeing.
Meditation is a great way to reduce your blood pressure, relieve stress, and improve your focus. Your wellbeing will thank you.
2. Forgive
You cannot underestimate how powerful forgiveness is. The holiday season can bring up a lot of frustrations and feelings as we sit down to sup with family members, we don’t see eye to eye with.
As though the stress of shopping and cooking wasn’t enough, there’s the politics of avoiding politics at the dinner table. Let go of that grudge and when necessary, ask for forgiveness!
3. Community
Humans are social beings. We rely on a strong social network to get us through the most difficult times. It makes us less vulnerable to sickness, stress, and improves resilience.
Loneliness comes with a wide range of health problems so, there is a real danger when you cut yourself off from friends and family. You need to surround yourself with the right people. Don’t hang out with any negative people – choose positive people.
It doesn’t matter how busy you are at work, how much running around you do for the family, make time for friends. You need to socialize, it’s crucial to your wellbeing.
4. Give Back
Giving truly is good for the soul. So, make sure you find a way to contribute to your community. It may be with your money, but it could be with your time. Whichever you have more of, but preferably the latter.
One of the greatest benefits of giving yourself to others is the stress relief that it brings. It also boosts your self-esteem and makes you happier. There’s a lot of reasons helping does a body good.
Why not check out your local community center to find out where you can be of help. It may be helping feed the homeless community, passing out goody bags to people who sleep rough, or coaching a kid’s team.
5. Consider the End
This isn’t to suggest you should focus on death. What it means is that you should be mindful that life is short. When you consider that, does that change how you look after yourself? It should.
The most common causes of death are tied to our lifestyle. So, by committing yourself to your wellbeing should help you reduce your risk factors for these lifestyle diseases.
While you’re at it – throw yourself into life because there’s no guarantee of tomorrow. So, love, laugh, and truly live your life. You can do that while still looking after your health and wellbeing.
There are so many different aspects of life and choices that you make that contribute to your wellbeing. You don’t have to wait for the new year to renew your commitment, but it’s a great place to start.
