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5 Things to Remember for a Healthy 2023

1. Make Your Well-Being a Priority

Think of health first, and not as the last thing only when something goes wrong. Remember, good health is your most valuable asset for a meaningful and complete life. 

Your work, relationships, finances, future, and quality of life depend on how healthy you are. So shouldn’t your health always be a priority? Some ways to take care of your physical health are watching what you eat, bringing movement into your life, getting enough sleep, and making time for regular health checkups. 

For a healthy life, focus on mental health too. Spend time with your family and friends, deal with stress in healthy ways, and do not shy away from seeking professional help if it gets overwhelming. 

2. Build a Healthy Relationship With Food

Think of food positively. Food provides nourishment and sustenance. Your body needs food to be able to develop, grow, move, play, and work.

This new year, instead of labelling foods as good or bad, replace processed food with whole, natural food whenever possible and eat a wide variety of foods in moderation. Remember, healthy eating is not an overnight change, it should be a way of life. 

Make small, sustainable changes to your diet, such as adding a salad to one meal in a day. Speak to a dietitian or nutritionist who can help you make informed food choices as per your body’s needs. 

3. Move More Everyday

Instead of a resolution about losing weight, make a habit of incorporating more movement and physical activity in your daily routine. 

Start with 10 minutes a day and move up to 30 when you feel comfortable. It can be any activity you enjoy. Take walks, dance your heart out, go for a swim, or join that Zumba class. Focus on how the activity makes you feel. 

If you make time for a joyful physical activity every day, you will also be able to see its effects on your physical and mental health soon. Any weight loss that happens is only a bonus!

4. Try Breaking up With an Unhealthy Habit

Almost everyone has a habit they are trying to kick, however unsuccessfully. Be it endless scrolling on the phone, burning up countless cigarettes, loading up on sugary treats, or whatnot. 

Start with taking tiny steps away from the habit. Make an hour before bedtime screen-free, cut back on the number of cigarettes you smoke every day or choose fruit as your after-meal sweet fix. 

Identifying the triggers that lead to the unhealthy habit can help you devise a plan to avoid the habit. Try every day, even if you fail. With persistence and patience, the new healthy habit will be as easy a part of your routine as the old one. 

5. Be Kind to Yourself and Others

This may seem like the easiest one on the list, but it is not. How many year ends have you sat wondering about tasks left unaccomplished, goals unmet, or simply for just not doing or being enough?

Pause. Take a deep breath and tell yourself it is ok to fail and learn from your experiences. Physical and mental health is an ongoing journey. You can start fresh every day. Start again tomorrow with a healthy meal, some movement, and some “me-time”.

Remember to be kind to others on their health journey as well. Everyone has their struggles and stories that others know nothing about. 

Note: You do not have to be a “New You” in the new year. You can be the same old you, who can choose whole foods, movement, health, and kindness to make 2023 a great year!