5 healthy habits for a great year!

5 healthy habits for a great year!

The most common New Year’s resolutions most of us make are to eat better, get ‘in shape’ or exercise more – but does it ever happen?!

I often see people start the year with good intentions, laser-like focus and determination to be healthier but as the weeks roll by and the busyness of the year kicks in, motivation can dwindle and things just go back to the way they were.

Well, not this year folks! I think the secret to success when it comes to being healthy is starting small and being consistent. Don’t overwhelm yourself with pressure, unrealistic goals and feeling like you have to thrash yourself to get results.

Here are 5 things I suggest you try each and every week this year which will help start you on a journey to healthier, happier living. Consistency is the key to making things happen.

1 Set yourself one, realistic goal each week

Rather than overwhelm yourself with big massive goals for the whole year which can often be hard to achieve, why not try setting yourself one, small, ACHIEVABLE goal at the start of each week. It is good to start with the end in mind when you are setting your goal.

How do you want to FEEL at the end of the week and what is the one thing that could help you feel like that?

• Want to feel more energised? Maybe your goal for the week can be to be in bed by 9pm.

• Want to feel fitter? Why not commit to a daily walk every morning?

• Keen to feel more connected? Why not make it your goal to call two of your friends this week.

• Small changes made consistently can add up to big results.

Like a challenge? Check out ‘It’s a beautiful day’ planner which will help you create healthy habits that last this year, plus – get involved with the weekly challenges which help you keep focused and feeling motivated.

2 Find great ways to keep yourself on track with your healthy habits

Whether you are trying to eat better, sleep more, be more active or mindful this year, relying on willpower to keep you on track is unlikely to work. Willpower is like a muscle that wears out as the week goes on or you get tired as the day goes on.

There are heaps of apps these days that can help keep you on track to get signed up for some inspiration, check out some ideas here.

If you are more of a pen and paper person, then this awesome planner is ideal to help you set a goal, create healthy habits and keep motivated and on track.

3 Plan your meals

Without a doubt, this is the easiest and most effective way to help make sure you are eating well. A rough plan of what you will be eating for your evening meals, what lunches you are having and what healthy snacks you need to buy, can make all the difference when it comes to making healthy happen.

Need help planning your meals? ‘It’s a beautiful day’ is just what you need.

It can be easy to get stuck in a rut of eating the same old things too, but if you commit to trying just one new recipe a week, then it’s not too overwhelming and within a few months you’ll have new meal in your everyday repertoire. It is a good idea to have a set night of the week to try the new recipe so you create a routine, say a Saturday night when you maybe have more time than mid-week! Need new inspiration for what to cook, check out our recipes here.

4 Surround yourself with the right people who make you feel good

Some people make you feel good and lift you up, others – drag you down. Aim to consciously spend more time each week with people who support your goals, dreams and passions. If you feel like you haven’t found your tribe yet, maybe this year is the perfect time to join a group or community of like-minded people who share a common interest – be it photography, pottery or tennis!  Feeling connected is vital for our mental wellbeing.

5 Be kind to yourself

“Be careful how you talk to yourself, you are listening”

There is only one YOU!  You might not look quite how you want to, be where you want to be in your life or have what you want to have yet, but you are amazing just the way you are. Make a commitment this year to check in with your ‘self-talk’. We say things to ourselves in our head that we would never say to a friend or someone we care about.

Here’s to a great year ahead!
Claire x