Alternative New Year's Resolutions
by HAWP staff
It's easy to get caught up in the New Year's resolution fervor and plan extreme changes to your eating and exercise habits. That might work for some, but remember that health and well-being encompasses much more than just nutrition and fitness.
Explore these alternative New Year's Resolutions to improve your health and well-being.
Sleeping 7-9 hours a night is one of the best things you can do to improve your health. It gives you the energy you need to manage stress, improves memory, motivation, concentration, and problem-solving, boosts your immune system, promotes healthy eating habits, and even improves your athletic performance! Resolve to prioritize sleep by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. Learn more about sleep hygiene.
Mindfulness is the practice of bringing your attention to the present moment. Research studies have consistently suggested a positive relationship between mindfulness and psychological health. Mindfulness can be used to reduce (or even prevent) stress, anxiety, and panic. Practices to try include various types of meditation , body scans , deep breathing , yoga (video) , tai chi or Qigong , and progressive muscle relaxation. Try a few methods to see what works best for you!
Have a complicated relationship with food? Break the food restriction/rebellion cycle through the practice of intuitive eating. Eating intuitively means listening to your internal cues (hunger, satiety, fullness, taste, and pleasure) rather than external cues (time, portion size, rules, and "shoulds"). Intuitive eating involves listening to your body to find out what it wants and needs, and trusting it to lead you in the right direction. Strategies include using a hunger/fullness scale, mindful eating, non-judgment, and honoring cravings.
You may have heard of self-care, but have you tried practicing self-compassion? Self-compassion is the idea of giving yourself the same kind of compassion and kindness that you would give to a friend. If you tend to be hard on yourself for making mistakes or struggling with things, you'll find that this is easier said than done! It's worth a try, though, because self-compassion has been shown to build resiliency, increase productivity, decrease stress, and is linked with greater overall well-being. There are a number of exercises you can try to help you get started.
Boundaries are crucial to maintaining health and well-being. Are you feeling overextended with your coursework, extracurricular commitments, and/or work? Setting boundaries around your time and involvement can help keep your responsibilities in balance and prevent burnout. It is okay to say no to things! This might mean stepping back from a leadership role or reserving a couple evenings per week for studying, exercise, or rest. It is also important to set boundaries in relationships, be they with family, romantic/sexual partners, or friends who may not always respect your time, needs, emotional labor, limits, independence, or privacy.