7 Ways To Live Healthier In 2018

If losing weight, bettering your health, or eating healthier are a part of your plan to better yourself in 2018, you’re not alone. Nearly half of all New Year’s resolutions have to do with fitness or bettering our bodies in some way. Unfortunately, less than half – 44 percent – of all resolutions survive beyond the first six months of the year.

So how do you make 2018 different? If the idea of hitting the gym for an hour, five days a week or eating salads everyday makes you run to the nearest vending machine, we’re with you. It’s time to simplify how you live healthier. By choosing small, daily steps to create a better body and mind, you’ll develop habits that last a lifetime, not just through January.

Commit To More Sleep

If just the thought of getting more sleep each night helps you relax, it’s time to make getting more ZZZs a priority. To get more sleep, build a nighttime routine. From the dishes to your cell phone, everything stops at a certain time to give your mind and body time to relax. Stop checking email. No, not one more episode of your favorite Netflix show. Lie in bed and relax. If you need something to occupy your mind, pick up a book, which is a stress reducer in itself.

Recognize Your Stressors

Before you can learn to stress less, you have to understand what actually causes stress in your mind and body. A certain person, work project, or the kids fighting in the back seat – whatever causes your blood pressure to rise – recognize your stressors. Be active in the moment to calm yourself or simply walk away and take a breather. Avoiding the stress can be much easier than treating it.

Declutter Regularly

If the kitchen table is your family’s catch-all for homework, bills, and magazines, decluttering your life may give you clarity in other areas. Give everything in your home its designated space. When your home is organized, your stress will decrease and your family functions more smoothly.

Take A Walk

You don’t have to hit the gym for hours at a time to better your physical health. Maintain a healthy weight and prevent some disease – diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease – with regular waking. Gradually increase your time and speed as you make walking a part of your daily routine.

Ask For Help

So often we fall into a rut of trying to get everything done ourselves, when even the smallest amount of help could be a huge relief. Whether it’s the kids, your partner, or a coworker, ask someone to help you take on the house chores or the extra project at work. An added hand will help reduce the number of things on your to-do list and lower your stress level.

Volunteer

Volunteering is not only good for your community, but you’ll also benefit by building your confidence, creating emotional stability and actually living longer. Research shows that people who volunteered at least 100 hours each week were some of the healthiest Americans.

Go To The Doctor

Make an appointment with your family physician for an annual checkup. Even if you haven’t had one in several years, building a baseline of your health with a basic exam will give you an idea of areas where you can improve. It will also give your doctor the chance to identify any health challenges before they turn into major problems.

If you want to be healthier or just stress a little less in 2018, try these seven tools to increase your quality of life and make this the best year yet!