People vow to ring in the New Year with resolutions to change. However, most of them fail to follow-through on the promises made to themselves. Are you one of them?
If you are, you would know that this happens because sweeping resolutions are very easy to make but hard to stick with. Most large-scale resolutions only add to the stress levels and become another obligation one “has” to do, rather than something that becomes part of your life.
If you have decided to bring about a change in your lifestyle for the sake of your mental and physical health – and stay fit for life, then all you got to do is make small changes – take one step at a time. Piecing together all these smaller steps makes achieving goals possible.
If you have small children, remember, they are going to follow suit. A healthy parent develops health consciousness in their children. It is all about leading a healthy lifestyle.
Follow these small changes for a month and see how your entire life changes for the better:
Diet
You will find most diet plans targeting fat, sugar or carbs. However, the main problem with people who want to reduce their calorie intake is the serving sizes.
“However little one may eat, one always overeats,” said Napoleon Bonaparte, who was given to moderation in eating and drinking.
When you go to a restaurant, you are served platefuls of food that contain more calories than you should be consuming in a single day. Since you cannot ask for half, the next time you want to enjoy Chicken Parmesan, order to get half of it packed in a takeaway bag even before they serve you. Even at home, use smaller serving dishes. You can even start using salad places for the main dishes to make them look full and give you a feeling of contentment. Most people tend to eat a lot of comfort food, especially during winter. Avoid this!
Exercise
An effective exercise is one that is intensive. Showing intensity while exercising means you are going to the next level. It is easy to boost your metabolism and this can be done by going up the stairs at home, a few times a day. You can walk, cycle or run to jump-start your metabolism. It will also help to add simple short one-minute bursts. In those short but intense moments, your body burns many more calories.
Stress Less
Observe yourself and look for tension in your mind and body. For example, if you notice yourself clenching your teeth or holding the steering wheel tightly when driving, that is an indication of tension within you and a rising level of aggravation. Another clear evidence of stress is if you keep having repetitive thoughts about something you hate; it could be a task or a person. This is a dangerous thing, which can aggravate if not stopped in the initial stages. It is very crucial to drive this tension away as soon as possible. Do some yoga or breathing exercises. Exhale deeply and slowly and hold your breath for as long as you can. Then inhale slowly, letting your lungs fill up with air completely. Pause with every exhalation and inhalation. Do this for 10-15 minutes every day. Once you are able to do this once, increase it to twice a day. This is a great way to combat stress, if done without fail every day.
Be Thankful
We get so caught up with the struggles of day-to-day life that we tend to overlook the good things life has to offer. Psychologists say that it works wonders to find one thing in a day – to be thankful for. It refocuses you on the positive aspects of life. You can post a reminder on the bathroom mirror, so that you see it every morning when you are getting ready.
Do not disregard this as something you already know. Most of know everything but we fail implementing them. Follow this simple achievable plan that can make a world of difference in your life. Through this, you are inculcating a habit for a healthy lifestyle, which will see you in good stead for years to come. Many of us just need a starting point – a plan to follow initially, and we can take it from there.
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