Most of us start the new year with strong resolutions to help change our habits or improve our health. However, it’s all too easy to let bad habits slip back in, and before you know it, you’re back to the same old ways you were trying to shake off. As we’re moving on into 2024, we’ll be discussing some of the most common New Year resolutions and how you can carry them through consistently going forward. Keep reading to find out more.
Quitting Smoking
Quitting smoking is one of the hardest habits to stop, due to a strong addiction that can be formed towards nicotine. It’s also commonly used as a way to relax and destress, making it even more difficult to cut out of your life. However, there are now more options than ever when it comes to replacing your nicotine intake and the physical habit of smoking. Many people choose to start vaping to replace smoking, and there is a wide range of different vape juice flavours now available to choose from, as well as different vaping options and nic salts for your vape . You could also consider nicotine replacement patches, lozenges or gum to help make quitting easier. If smoking is used to help unwind, then try replacing it with other stress-relieving activities such as breathing exercises or yoga. For more severe stress, counselling can be hugely beneficial.
Carrying On From Dry January
Cutting down on your alcohol intake holds great benefits for your health, especially when it comes to your liver health. However, cutting down on alcohol also helps with other aspects, such as better mental health, as it reduces the depressive effects of alcohol and leaves you with a clearer head to face the day. You could even see improvements in your physical appearance such as weight loss, less tooth staining, and fewer wrinkles. A lot of people take part in dry January, but continuing into the following months with either less or no alcohol could be a great choice for your short and long-term health. Try replacing drinks with alcohol-free options, or fruit juices and cordials.
Keeping The Weight Off
Losing weight is perhaps the most common New Year’s resolution. However, it can also be one of the hardest to maintain. This can be for a variety of reasons, such as increased stress levels or fad diets. To avoid yo-yo dieting, try not to severely cut calories too quickly. Instead, consume the recommended daily intake of calories for your needs and make sure you’re eating plenty of mixed food groups that will help you achieve your nutritional requirements. It can be helpful to get support from a professional dietician or nutritionist to help you understand your individual needs and help you reach your weight loss goals in a healthy and consistent manner.
Eating Cleaner
Eating a better and cleaner diet is also a common goal for many of us going into the new year after the excesses and indulgences of Christmas. But as the enthusiasm of January wears off, it can easily lead to poor food choices creeping back in. To help maintain healthier eating habits, try not to be too strict with your new diet. Completely cutting out your favourite treats and snacks can be counterintuitive. Instead, moderation is key. Allow yourself the occasional treat when it’s needed, as this will reduce your craving for it over time. Combining healthy eating with your other favourite meals mixed in will lead to better health and a more sustainable healthy-eating diet.
Drinking More Water
If you’re hoping to try to drink more water in 2024, it can be a great choice for your overall health. Drinking more water is believed to help with increased energy levels, improved digestion, and even clearer skin. For many of us, it can be easy to forget to drink the recommended amount of water per day, especially during colder months. To help you get the right amount of water you need daily, try setting reminders on your phone, writing sticky notes on your desk, or buying a water bottle that shows how much water you’re consuming throughout the day and when you’ve had the right amount. Adding flavouring to your water, such as cordials, fresh fruit, or cucumber, can also help encourage you to drink more and provide additional health benefits.
Less Screen Time
Cutting down on the amount of time we spend on our phones, laptops, or watching TV is one of the best habits we can choose to change for both our physical and mental health. It can help boost many different aspects of our health. Less time sitting still staring at a screen means more time moving around, boosting weight loss and cardiovascular health. It also helps to reduce the risk of blood clots due to increased blood flow to the legs. What’s more, it’s believed that less time on our phones or computers can help to improve our mental health too. Spending more time interacting with friends and family in person is great for our mental health, and reduces the damaging effects that social media can bring. Set limits for screen time to help you shake the habit of checking your emails or social media too regularly. Or find hobbies that help to get you away from screens such as reading, sports, or craft classes.
More Family Time
That leads us on to another common goal for the new year, more family time. With life seeming more fast-paced and busy than ever, finding time for our loved ones and offering them the time and attention they deserve can be increasingly difficult. Try and find pockets of time throughout the day to check in with friends and family. Or allocate set days or evenings where you know you can focus your attention on them fully. This will not only help to improve your relationships, it also helps to boost your mental health and wellbeing too. Ask your family and friends what they would like to do for quality time, such as attending a group or class together, or simply having a cosy night in.
Helping Others
Another great habit to take into 2024 is to find new ways to help others. This can either be through helping people you already know, or through helping strangers. Think about the people in your life and how you could make their lives better. For example, maybe you have an elderly neighbour who could use some help with their shopping or walking their dog. A great way to help others is to volunteer at places such as soup kitchens or food banks. Not only will you be helping those in need, it’s also a great way to meet new people and make friends too. You can learn more about volunteering opportunities in your local area online or by asking for recommendations from friends, family, and colleagues.
Whether you’re looking to lose weight, socialise more, or start a new hobby, there are a number of ways you can help to make sure you’re sticking to your New Year’s resolutions. We hope this article has been helpful for supporting you in achieving your goals and sustaining your efforts through into 2024 and beyond. We wish you the best of luck!
