Blog contributed by Elena Stewart
Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels
The end of the year approaches fast, and that means we need to determine what goals we want to accomplish in the new year and how we can foresee them getting done. Folks who want to consider investing their time and energy into forming healthy habits should also make sure they have a plan for sticking to them, especially as self-isolation continues into 2021. Maybe you want to create an exercise routine to stave off the chance of osteoporosis or eat healthier foods to improve mental health.
Let’s take a look at a few of your options for making healthy choices in the new year:
1. Take care of yourself first.
The definition of “self-care” encapsulates mental and physical aspects, but it all starts with treating yourself kindly — because you should be your own number-one fan. Some easy mental health resolutions you can make this year include being grateful, asking for help when you need it, and giving yourself time to decompress from stressful events. Turning off your phone, taking a walk, and sitting quietly with a cup of your favorite tea or coffee are great ways to decompress.
Self-care also extends to paying more attention to every part of your body, and that includes your hair. Taking collagen for hair growth can help your hair become stronger and thicker. Collagen can even support retaining your hair color as you age. The science behind it is simple: Collagen helps your body produce the kinds of proteins and amino acids that create the compounds that strengthen hair and nails.
2. Listen to your body’s need for sleep.
Another healthy habit that can greatly improve your mood and help you get more out of the new year is to make sure you’re getting enough sleep. This starts with creating routines and a more conducive sleep environment. For instance, you can incorporate a 30-minute wind down into your daily bedtime routine, or dim the lights as you get ready to go to bed. This will help signal to your body that it’s time to rest.
One thing you want to keep in mind, however: Adjust your sleep schedule incrementally. You don’t want to make huge changes all at once because it can throw your body off its rhythm. For instance, if your goal is to get more sleep, try to add only one or two hours per night at first. These kinds of smaller changes are more sustainable, which will contribute to helping you maintain them in the new year.
Taking sleep aids like melatonin could be something to experiment with as you continue your health journey in 2021. Melatonin, which is a hormone created to regulate the sleep cycle, is considered safe for short-term use as a supplement, so if you want to try this vitamin to see if it helps your sleep cycle, be aware of the limits.
3. Lose weight and keep it off.
The so-called “Covid-19 pounds” is something impacting a lot of us, and the new year presents a perfect opportunity to reaffirm your weight-loss goals. There are several things you can do to get yourself back on track.
First — and this applies to all of the resolutions you may set this year — you want to focus on small victories. Small, achievable goals are easier to accomplish quickly, which gives you the motivation to keep it up. Put a number on how much weight you want to lose — for example, one pound per week in January.
Useful weight-loss tips go beyond simply eating healthy or exercising more. You can also resolve to shop at your local health food store for most of your groceries and change your main cooking oil to olive oil, which is full of omega-3 fatty acids.
Start small, dream big.
Remember: Making incremental changes will improve your mindset and help motivate you to maintain your New Year’s habits. Give yourself a rest, take care of your own needs, and celebrate the small victories.
Are you thinking about having a baby soon or do you need to schedule your yearly checkup? Get in touch with the obstetrics experts at Teton Women’s Health Center at 208-523-2060.
Blog courtesy of Elena Stewart
Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels
The end of the year approaches fast, and that means we need to determine what goals we want to accomplish in the new year and how we can foresee them getting done. Folks who want to consider investing their time and energy into forming healthy habits should also make sure they have a plan for sticking to them, especially as self-isolation continues into 2021. Maybe you want to create an exercise routine to stave off the chance of osteoporosis or eat healthier foods to improve mental health.
Let’s take a look at a few of your options for making healthy choices in the new year:
1. Take care of yourself first.
The definition of “self-care” encapsulates mental and physical aspects, but it all starts with treating yourself kindly — because you should be your own number-one fan. Some easy mental health resolutions you can make this year include being grateful, asking for help when you need it, and giving yourself time to decompress from stressful events. Turning off your phone, taking a walk, and sitting quietly with a cup of your favorite tea or coffee are great ways to decompress.
Self-care also extends to paying more attention to every part of your body, and that includes your hair. Taking collagen for hair growth can help your hair become stronger and thicker. Collagen can even support retaining your hair color as you age. The science behind it is simple: Collagen helps your body produce the kinds of proteins and amino acids that create the compounds that strengthen hair and nails.
2. Listen to your body’s need for sleep.
Another healthy habit that can greatly improve your mood and help you get more out of the new year is to make sure you’re getting enough sleep. This starts with creating routines and a more conducive sleep environment. For instance, you can incorporate a 30-minute wind down into your daily bedtime routine, or dim the lights as you get ready to go to bed. This will help signal to your body that it’s time to rest.
One thing you want to keep in mind, however: Adjust your sleep schedule incrementally. You don’t want to make huge changes all at once because it can throw your body off its rhythm. For instance, if your goal is to get more sleep, try to add only one or two hours per night at first. These kinds of smaller changes are more sustainable, which will contribute to helping you maintain them in the new year.
Taking sleep aids like melatonin could be something to experiment with as you continue your health journey in 2021. Melatonin, which is a hormone created to regulate the sleep cycle, is considered safe for short-term use as a supplement, so if you want to try this vitamin to see if it helps your sleep cycle, be aware of the limits.
3. Lose weight and keep it off.
The so-called “Covid-19 pounds” is something impacting a lot of us, and the new year presents a perfect opportunity to reaffirm your weight-loss goals. There are several things you can do to get yourself back on track.
First — and this applies to all of the resolutions you may set this year — you want to focus on small victories. Small, achievable goals are easier to accomplish quickly, which gives you the motivation to keep it up. Put a number on how much weight you want to lose — for example, one pound per week in January.
Useful weight-loss tips go beyond simply eating healthy or exercising more. You can also resolve to shop at your local health food store for most of your groceries and change your main cooking oil to olive oil, which is full of omega-3 fatty acids.
Start small, dream big.
Remember: Making incremental changes will improve your mindset and help motivate you to maintain your New Year’s habits. Give yourself a rest, take care of your own needs, and celebrate the small victories.
Are you thinking about having a baby soon or do you need to schedule your yearly checkup? Get in touch with the obstetrics experts at Teton Women’s Health Center at 208-523-2060.
Blog courtesy of Elena Stewart
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