New Year. New You.
Five Simple Lifestyle Changes for 2016
New Year’s resolutions: we all make them; we all break them. Too often we set ourselves up to struggle with our New Year’s commitments by setting goals that are too aggressive. Losing 20 pounds by February first, running a sub-three hour marathon with no training, or turning-in your burger habit for a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet may not be a safe, healthy, or obtainable goal for most people. Fortunately, there are simple ways to make changes to your lifestyle in 2016 that won’t make you feel overwhelmed by your commitment.
Consider these five simple lifestyle changes that can help you to become a happier, healthier, you.
- Use Natural Skin Care Products. Your skin is your largest organ, which is why what you put on your body is just as important as what you put in it. Switching out chemically created skin products for natural, organic options is healthier for both you and the environment. Natural and organic products are designed to work with your body’s natural systems, which is why many women find natural products are gentler on their skin, causing less irritation. Check retailers in your local community as well. Choosing locally sourced products not only reduces environmental waste associated with shipping and distribution, it allows you to support your locally economy, which means everyone wins.
- Park Further Away. Walking is one of the simplest ways to get active. Every extra step you take during the day will help you to burn calories. In addition, a recent study found that women who increased their step count to nearly 10,000 per day reduced their blood pressure after 24 weeks. Another study of overweight women found that walking 10,000 steps a day improved their glucose levels.
- Swap Soda for Seltzer. According to researchers at Harvard University, each additional soda consumed increases an individual’s risk of obesity 1.6 times. Removing soda from your diet can help you control your weight and limit your daily sugar consumption. If you are drinking soda on a regular basis, replace it with seltzer water. Like soda, seltzer has a cool, bubbly effervescence, but without all of the sugar and chemical sweeteners. Add flavor with slices of fresh lemon or lime.
- Give Yourself an Extra 15 Minutes. Nothing can start your day off on a bad note than running late first thing in the morning. If you’re barely making it to work on time every day, adding stress to your mornings, try setting your alarm for only fifteen minutes earlier than your current wake-up time. Attempting to shift your sleep schedule too dramatically can be a difficult transition. An extra fifteen minutes may be all you need to wake up still feeling rested without the stress of having to rush.
- Save Your Spare Change. Small amounts of loose change can add up to big savings over time. At the end of every day, empty your wallet by placing your spare coins and single dollar bills in a jar or box. You likely will never miss these small amounts, but by the end of the year, you’ll have saved enough money to treat yourself to a massage, a new purse, or a new pair of running sneakers. As an alternative, you could deposit your funds into your emergency savings fund, or use the money to accomplish further good by donating it to charity.
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Women over the age of 18 or who are sexually active are encouraged to see a GYN once each year for their annual exam. Being proactive is an essential part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Follow our blog for more articles on women’s health.