The 'go easy on yourself' New Year's Resolution list ;)

You set yourself a New Year’s resolution, with big ambitions, only for it to fizzle out by the end of January, leaving you disheartened and demotivated. You had the best intentions and the goals on your list were, undoubtedly, going to “boost wellness” and make you feel amazing! Instead, you end up feeling like you’re never going to make that lifestyle change or feel better. So, let’s think about this notion of self-improvement in a different way. Be reasonable and realistic and most of all, be kind to yourself 🙂

The most popular New Year’s resolutions are:

Eat healthier
Lose weight
Quit smoking
Spend more time with family
Drink less alcohol
Exercise more
Sleep more
Improve mental health

These are all great ideas and every one of them would most likely lead to a healthier, happier life…but are they achievable for you personally?

Let’s rethink: –

“Eat healthier” – Simply start by adding a couple of extra portions of veg to your diet – read more in our post – 10 ways you can eat more fruit & veggies!
“Lose weight” – Take some time to reflect on your relationship with food – more advice here: 4 ways to improve your relationship with food
“Quit smoking” – This is challenging and most people need support with this – seek help here.¹
“Spend more time with family” – It could be committing to a weekly family dinner or games night, putting a date in the diary to visit relatives, planning a date night with your partner, or a regular get-together with a friend.
“Drink less alcohol” – Start with simple things like using smaller wine glasses or buying a jigger to measure units!²
“Exercise more” – One step at a time: choose an exercise that you can physically manage and commit to one session per week – build up slowly from there. Here are some ideas and tips on exercise.
“Sleep more” – Trying to get a quality night’s sleep can become a real stress for many, so begin by going to bed at the same time every night or waking up at the same time each morning. All the research points to this being the best way to get into a good sleep/wake cycle and ensure a better night’s rest.³
“Improve mental health” – This can be a big step and you might need a bit of outside support.⁴ However, there are things that you can do in the short term that are proven to lift mood and/or reduce anxiety. It could be carving out some downtime each day, simple breathing techniques, a gratitude journal, or more practical things such as prioritising your to-do list or delegating household tasks!

Whatever you choose to do from this list (if anything at all), take baby steps, and don’t put any pressure on yourself to be a brand new you and ‘fixed’ by the end of the year. Health is a work in progress and any improvement or positive change is a win!

Here are some other articles to support a healthier and happier you on the Gut Health Express blog –

Any questions? Contact one of our Nutritional Therapists via live chat, weekdays from 8 am to 8 pm.