Ring in a happy and healthy New Year

Top ten habits to start the year off right

By Cynthia Maquet

1 Movement

Take the short walks, take the stairs, march in place – whatever you have to do – MOVE. Movement is the KEY to success. Ten minutes every hour adds up! It keeps your metabolism awake, which in turn gives you the energy to burn throughout the day.

2 Eat your protein and vegetables

EVERY meal should incorporate protein and vegetables. Not only do they give you the proper fuel to burn, but they make you feel fuller throughout the day. It is that simple.

3 Limit sugar, caffeine, and alcohol

Although hard to do for most people, if you can limit – or even eliminate sugar, caffeine, and alcohol, you are well on your way to success. You will get rid of cravings and inflammation, plus you will have less brain fog and better sleep. Overall, you will just feel better.

4 Drink your water

Your daily water intake should be half of your body weight in ounces. Add lemon, lime, or cucumber mint to spice your water up! Watch out for water that has artificial flavoring or fake sugar.

5 Get your Z’s

Sleep is just as important as exercise. Your body needs six to eight hours of sleep a night for recovery. Keeping a routine, going to bed and waking up at the same time is important. Avoid screens before bedtime to promote a better quality of sleep!

6 Watch out for “sneaky labels”

Sugarless, no sugar, zero sugar, and sugar-free are sneaky ways to make you think there is no sugar in the product. Read the actual ingredients. There are over sixty different names for hidden sugar. Be aware.

7 Exercise

You don’t have to be a gym rat to get your exercise. Find something you love to do that doesn’t make you feel like you are exercising, whether it be playing a sport, dancing, lifting weights, practicing yoga, or hitting up a spin class! Mix it up so you don’t get bored.

8 Take care of your mental health

Prioritize yourself. Make time to do what YOU would like to do. It is ok to say NO. Start a gratitude journal. Rest. Meditate. Go outside. Breathe. Get your Vitamin D.

9 Do your regular check-ups

Don’t forget to see your doctor, dentist, and dermatologist once a year. Keeping up with routine screenings such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and prostate exams is a way to stay proactive in managing your health.

10 Balance

Life is about balance. Don’t beat yourself up if you happen to fall off the wagon. Cultivating good healthy habits can improve both our physical and mental well-being. Consistency is critical to maintaining healthy habits. Cheers to a healthy and happy 2024!