photo credit: fitblackgirlsinc

Tis the season for New Year’s resolutions. Year after year tons of people make resolutions for a better body. However, that rarely encompasses both mental and physical attributes.

A healthy mind can actually help you achieve some of your physical endeavors, so it is worth making a commitment to both in order to live your best life in the new year. Check out this list of new year resolutions for a healthy body.

10. Lose Weight

This tops the list as it is probably one of the most common resolutions of them all, and not for no reason. Living your best life starts with a healthy body. If you have weight to lose, actually losing it can increase your self-confidence, make you feel better and more energetic, and reduce your risk of some serious health conditions.

The key to this resolution, and really every resolution on this list, is consistency and sticking with it. Celebrate the small goals and celebrate progress regardless of if you hit your goal or not. Wanted to lose 10 pounds this month but only dropped 7? Celebrate it! You’re 7 pounds closer to your final result.

Some essential tips to making weight loss one of your resolutions include:

1. Set realistic, attainable goals
2. Reward yourself with experiences (definitely not food!)
3. Target your workouts to your weight loss goals (cardio and strength)

9. Stop Smoking

The commercials are abundant, and the statistics are overwhelming. There’s no way you can be living your best life in 2018 if you still smoke. There’s also no way your body can be healthy if you still smoke either.

Cutting out smoking will make your workouts easier and your days longer since you won’t have to take any smoke breaks. If this is a habit, you have, ditching it will show tremendous results alone.

8. Put the Glass Down

Similar to the resolution above, drink less alcohol. Not only does a high alcohol intake sabotage your weight loss, but it also is an expensive habit. That is, expensive in the sense of money and costly to your health as it destroys your liver and kidney functions.

This isn’t a habit you have to cut out completely, but if your idea of “social drinking” is mimosas every morning, wine every night, and liquor binges on the weekend, you’ve got some re-evaluating to do.

7. Reduce Stress

This resolution is easier said than done, but it appeals to your mental health. We all have some level of controllable stressors in our life, so do just that. Control them. This could mean mending relationships, or it could mean letting some go. It could mean searching for a new job or cutting back hours at the one you have.

Regardless what this looks like for you, your mind and body will thank you if you cut out certain known triggers.

6. Unplug, Power Off, Shut Down

So, this one is simple. Turn off your phone. We’re all guilty of using our screens (phone, laptop tablet) just a little too much. Set boundaries for your screen time like you would do with a child if for no other reason than to spend more time with them (or any loved ones you have).

No phones after 9:00 pm. When you wake up, don’t check your phone until you’ve washed up. From 2-4pm, take a break from technology. These are all just examples, but they’re realistic. Power down at some point during your day.

5. Go to Bed Early

Setting boundaries with the resolution above may help with this, so the two go hand in hand. Other reasons we don’t get enough rest, though, are that we are working on something or preparing for something big. This is actually beyond counterproductive. Having a set routine for sleeping and waking will likely allow you to get the most out of your days.

Getting enough rest will enhance your mood, fuel your workouts, and help your body to glow and exude radiance. Go to bed!

4. Schedule and Keep Appointments

This resolution is really easy to commit to. Like you set appointments for your hair and nails, you want to set appointments for your health.

When was the last time you went to the dentist, had a wellness exam, or saw your doctor for an ailment? It may be the time you put your schedule on autopilot and just knock this resolution off your list.

3. Cut Down on Sugar

So much of our diet consists of sugar. Even some things that we assume don’t have sugar in them do. This is why committing to the last resolution (cooking from scratch) can be so helpful.

Sugar is like a drug. It has highs and lows, and it can have some really nasty-feeling effects coming off of it.

Commit to at least reducing your intake, instead of going cold turkey, and you’ll eventually feel amazing and reduce the risk of some serious health concerns in the process.

2. Increase Water Intake

Grow your hair, keep your body free of toxins, clear your skin. The benefits go on and on with water because it makes up about 60 percent of our bodies and 75 percent of our brains! This is the perfect resolution to peak at both physical and mental health this year.

1. Cook from Scratch

This will help you save money in 2018 and boost your health. People cook from scratch for two main reasons: (1) ensure you’re eating quality ingredients, and (2) guarantee all the food groups YOU need are represented. That means if you are deficient in a certain vitamin try to create recipes high in what you lack.

An easy way to keep this resolution is to meal plan, meal prep, and spice up your menu every once in a while, so you don’t get bored.