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5 Tips for Healthy New Year’s Resolutions | Comfort Keepers

Looking for a resolution for the new year? We have 5 suggestions for you.

The new year has just begun, which means you’ve a blank slate ahead of you to make the best of the next 12 months. Are you looking for some resolutions for the new year to better yourself and your health? You might have overindulged a bit over Christmas – all that food, drink and festive treats. It’s time now to get back on track, and we have put together 5 things we recommend you do to be healthy and happy in 2018.

1 – Get Healthy and Get Active in 2018

Being active is one of the most important aspects of staying healthy. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. When you’re out and about, take the stairs instead of the lift or the escalator. If you use the bus or public transport, get off a stop or two earlier.

Older adults may struggle with their mobility or feel uncomfortable exercising alone, which is why a home care aid could help them move around. These small changes make a huge difference to your mobility, blood flow and weight loss. Weight can easily creep on, but if you aim for 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week, you’re closer to staying on top of it.

2 – Stay Hydrated to Stay Healthy

Water, water, water. Your body is about 60% water so it’s important you drink enough of it. Try to drink at least 6 glasses of water a day. Dehydration has negative effects on your health, including dry skin, inability to concentrate and headache. Often our bodies don’t recognise thirst and instead, we think we’re hungry, so drinking a glass of water with your meals can stop you overeating. If you don’t enjoy drinking still water, you can opt for fizzy water or you can add some sugar-free squash.

3 – Resolve to Eat Healthier this New Year

For people living alone, it can be difficult to find the motivation to cook a hearty, healthy meal. The quality of the fruits and vegetables in the supermarket isn’t always great during winter, and it’s so tempting to a takeaway. But takeaways and frozen meals are full of excess sugar, salt and calories. Not only that, but they are more expensive than when you cook at home.

Comfort Keepers carers can help plan and prepare healthy meals. Batch cooking something like a chilli or a bolognese is a good idea. You can take what you need, and freeze the rest. Then you only need to cook your pasta or rice during the week. Your waistband and your wallet will thank you!

4 – Learn to Meditate

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Practicing mindfulness has huge benefits, including reduced stress levels, increased self-control and emotional regulation. A simple way to practice mindfulness is through meditation. Meditation can take many forms, but the main thing is to focus your attention to the moment you’re in. Watch the birds outside your window, clear your mind while you’re going for a walk or simply sit still and concentrate on your breathing. Take a few minutes a day to centre yourself and you’ll be a calmer, more collected person. If you’re unsure where to start, there’s a number of smartphone apps available to help you. Why not download HeadSpace from your app store and get started?

5 – Train your Brain

There’s lots of research out there that links increased mental stimulation with the slowing down of cognitive decline, and suggests a reduced risk of developing dementia. Train your brain and test your memory by challenging yourself mentally every day. Why don’t you try your hand at a new skill? Or rekindle your love of an old one? Sudoku, crosswords, puzzles and reading are all great ways to stay sharp. If you want something a bit more practical, you can try to learn a new language. There are lots of methods available to you do so! Duolingo is a free app for smartphones and tablets, and it allows you to spend 5 or 10 minutes a day learning a language.

The new year is just beginning, so why don’t you start out on the right foot? Jump in and get healthy! Don’t let the wind or rain deter you from your new resolution; there’s plenty to do to keep on top of your mental and physical health. Take the stairs, cut down on sugar and salt, drink more water and make sure you use your brain. Small changes add up to big results, and while these 5 tips are not time-consuming, they have massive importance for your health and wellbeing.

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