The New Year has finally come and we know you have a lot of resolutions and a list of things you want to achieve this year. Is being happy and healthy part of your New Year resolution?
In the midst of our hustles, bustles and struggles, we forget to pay better attention to our health (especially mental health) and we forget to do those things that make us happy.
As ‘odd’ as it might sound to you, choosing to remain healthy and happy should be part of your resolutions for year 2020. This New Year is the perfect opportunity to start a new chapter in your life. It’s a new adventure, a new beginning, a fresh canvas to paint your life on.
How can you achieve a healthier and happier life? Practice the following:
Focused breathing
Stuart Sandeman, a transformational breath coach and founder of Breathpod says “Learning how to control your breathing is one of the most powerful and freeing neurohacks for managing all kinds of feelings and emotions.”
Your state of mind and emotions are closely connected to how you are breathing. “When you feel stressed, anxious or afraid, your breath becomes short and shallow which activates your sympathetic nervous system—commonly referred to as the fight or flight response. When relaxed and calm, the breath is slow and full and your parasympathetic nervous system is engaged, creating a rest and digest response. By practicing slow, controlled, focused breathing you can send a signal of calm and relaxation to the mind and change the way you feel at any moment.” says Sandeman.
Conscious breathing will boost your energy levels, focus and creativity at work and everyday life.
Read more books
There’s a reason why highly successful people like Bill Gates, Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey invest their time in reading books. They not only impart knowledge but also boost your productivity, sharpen your focus and memory, improve sleep and help you become more empathetic. Researchers also believe that reading may help prevent cognitive decline as it involves active mental engagement.
Eat mindfully
“Being mindful of the foods entering your body isn’t necessarily about counting calories or tracking carbs, but rather approaching food in a way that evokes an awareness of what nourishes the mind, body and soul” – Leslie Silverglide.
There are plenty of ways to practice mindful eating in the year ahead:
Serve out your portions.
Resist eating straight from the bag or the box. Not only is it easier to overeat when you can’t see how much you’ve had, but it is also harder to fully appreciate your food when it is hidden from view.
Pick the smaller plate.
You might crave less if you see less. Smaller plates will help you with your portion control — an especially good strategy for those all-you-can-eat buffets.
Chew 30 times.
Try to get 30 chews out of each bite, especially for foods like yam, rice, bread and so on. Take time to enjoy the flavors and textures in your mouth before you swallow. This may also help prevent overeating by giving your gut time to send messages to the brain to say you’re full.
Learn a new skill or pick up a new hobby.
Learning a new skill or activity can do wonders for your brain health. “Learning creates new neural pathways in your brain. The more you practice a skill, the more you increase the speed and strength of those neural connections. This process is known as myelination – it increases the white matter in your brain and helps it run more efficiently,” explains Dr. Gina Delucca, a California-based licensed psychologist.
Think of your brain as a muscle. You need to regularly exercise it to keep it functioning optimally, learning something new is a great way to do that.
Be more kind to yourself
“Practicing self-acceptance is about accepting yourself as a human being who has strengths as well as limitations, imperfections as well as the potential for growth. It also involves being kind to yourself and feeling good about yourself despite your perceived ‘flaws’, past experiences and life choices.” – Dr. Delucca.
To make self-acceptance a habit, start by paying attention to your inner dialogue. If you notice that your inner self-critic is coming out, silence it by redirecting your thoughts to a positive place.
Read more Here.
So Leading Ladies, which of these are you putting into practice right away? Do you also have other tips to live a healthier and happier life? Go ahead and share with us.
