The 2018 Resolutions That Are Totally Attainable
Don’t make weight loss or get fit one of your 2018 resolutions.
Instead, resolve to be healthier.
Why not stretch more? When you wake up, give your muscles a stretch to reconnect with your body and how it’s feeling. Ask yourself, are there any tight areas? How is your neck feeling? What about your shoulders and back? Listen to your body.
Eat breakfast. That’s one of the good 2018 resolutions. It may seem more convenient to grab a coffee in the morning and go, but skipping breakfast creates dips in blood sugar and makes you more likely to overeat later in the day.
Get outside every day. Being outside ensures that you get a dose of vitamin D from sunlight, encourages you to keep up your workout a little longer (a trail is so much more motivating than a treadmill!) and helps keep your circadian rhythms in check so that you sleep well at night. Research also shows that exercising outdoors boosts mental health.
Eat more whole foods. Forget about calories and focus on ingredients instead. Nutritionists encourage you to eat foods that contain only real ingredients (that go by names you can comprehend on an ingredient list). In other words, you don’t want to eat processed foods that contain artificial colors and flavors, aspartame, MSG, trans fats and high-fructose corn syrup. Those additives have been linked to everything from headaches to obesity to diabetes.
Be more productive. Set aside a couple of hours a week to turn off your phone and email notifications and work on a personal goal. Whether you spend Sunday afternoons doing meal prep to adopt healthier eating habits or take some time to read a few chapters in a book, an important aspect of well-being is to focus on one project at a time and be fully present – this ability to focus enhances performance and productivity.
Drink green water! I’m sure you weren’t expecting this one to be on your list of options for 2018 resolutions. But staying hydrated is vital to keeping your body systems working smoothly. Liven up your H2O by adding refreshing mint chlorophyll (available at your local health food store), which gives plants their green color and contains antioxidants and nutrients like vitamins A, C, E and K.
Enjoy being healthier and happier in 2018!!
The staff and board of Shingletown Medical Center wish you a happy, healthy New Year!