Easy Ways to be Healthy in the New Year

With the Christmas holiday season behind us, many are looking to improve their health habits after a few weeks of parties, treats, and lounging around. Below are some tips for getting back on track this January:

1. Stick to a Routine

Whether it’s what you eat, when you exercise, or how much you sleep, sticking to a routine helps maximize alertness and health. Try eating at the same times, drinking coffee at the same times, and sleeping and waking on a regular schedule.

2. Don’t Skip Meals

Skipping meals might seem like an easy way to cut calories and lose weight, but can do more damage than good. This disrupts the regularity of your digestive system and drain energy. Then, when you do eat, you may end up eating more than you would have normally. Try to minimize snacking instead, which can be a big contributor to excess calories.

3. Use Breaks to Exercise

Busy schedules can make it hard to fit in a workout before or after work. To burn some extra calories and gain some additional energy, try going for a jog or a few walks around the block during lunch breaks. Exercise helps prevent obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and more, and releases endorphins to improve your mood.

4. Replace Foods with Vegetables

If you have a big appetite, try replacing foods you would normally eat with lots of vegetables. Compared to other foods, they are loaded with fiber and micronutrients, and have less fat and sugar. Because of the fiber and volume of vegetables, they’ll fill you up before you eat other less healthy foods.

5. Stay Busy

Many people think about food when they have down time or are bored. Try staying busy and making plans!