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It’s hard to believe that we only have a few weeks left of 2016. And as we approach the end of the year, it’s a good time to reevaluate our health. After all, a lot of us made resolutions on the first of January this year that we didn’t stick to for the rest of the year! Therefore, it’s time to think about changes you need to make to ensure you stay healthy next year. Here is six pieces of advice you need to become a healthier you during 2017!
Cut back on your drinking
A lot of us will drink a significant amount over the next couple of months. After all, the holidays are the booziest time of the year. In fact, people in the UK drink over 400 million pints in pubs during December. So you are bound to have a few nights out where you drink excessively! But if you look back at the year and think that you have drunk too much, it would be wise to cut back your drinking next year. After all, as well as being bad for your liver, drinking excessively can cause mood swings and high blood pressure. And as alcohol is packed full of calories (a pint has around 180 calories), it could also be causing you to gain weight. Therefore, cut back on the booze and feel healthier next year.
Attempt to get more sleep
So many of us are not getting enough sleep at night. In fact, one in four UK adults wishes they had a better night’s sleep. There are many reasons why we aren’t getting enough shut-eye. For some of us, we are heading to bed and looking at our phones for ages. Other people are so stressed out that they struggle to get any sleep. Whatever the reason for your lack of sleep, it is damaging to your health. After all, when we don’t get enough sleep, it can cause our brain to not work as efficiently. And it can make you more prone to depression and heart disease. Therefore, attempt to get more sleep to stay healthy. The best way to do this is to figure out why you are getting a lack of sleep and find a solution. For example, it might be that you need to stop snacking after 9 pm. Getting more sleep will ensure you are a healthier you next year. After all, read our previous blog for the benefits of getting enough sleep!
Switch to a healthier diet
For most people, one of their new year’s resolutions will be to lose weight. After all, there are millions of people who attempt diets every year! But they usually fail miserably as they follow diets which are not realistic in the long-run. So if you want to be a healthier you for 2017, you just need to make healthier choices when it comes to food. Don’t stick to fad diets which will not help you in the long run. Look at your current meals and make changes so that they include healthy foods. Cut out saturated fat and bad carbs which will cause weight gain. If you are stuck for meal ideas, you can find healthy meals in cookbooks such as the body coach Joe Wicks’ popular recipe books. Or you can talk to a nutritionist who will help you with a meal plan.
Start biking or walking to work
We all join the gym and promise ourselves that we will go at least three times a week. But unless you are committed, a lot of us stop going after a couple of months. In fact, a lot of people pay for gym memberships, but never attend the facility! But as you know, exercise is the easiest way to ensure you stay healthy in your life. One way you can ensure you do get your daily exercise is by combining it with your commute to work. Biking or walking to work will ensure you get exercise while saving you money on the cost of petrol! Therefore, switch from your vehicle to walking or biking when travelling to work and you will soon notice a difference in your health!
Go to the doctor for a check-up
A lot of us put off going to the doctor. If you think back during 2016, you will have more than likely only gone once or twice. Therefore, to ensure you are a healthier you during 2017, you need to head to the doctors for a check-up. They will check things like your blood pressure and weight to ensure you stay healthy. Also, if you are having any health issues, you can discuss ways with the doctor to improve it. For example, if you have irregular menstrual cycles, they may put you the contraceptive pill to help you have regular periods. Once you are on the pill, you can always get the tables such as cerazette from a registered online pharmacy so you don’t have to go back to the doctors. And also by going to the doctors, they might spot an issue with your health that you don’t know about. Therefore, head to see your GP to be a healthier you during 2017.
Reduce stress in your life
It’s not just your physical health which needs an overhaul for 2017. More people than ever in the UK are suffering from mental health conditions such as an anxiety disorder or depression. And it usually starts with stress which you can experience in your life. So if you are stressing too much, it’s time to cut it out of your life to help protect your mental health. For a lot of people, it’s work related as the pressure of stressful bosses, long working hours and low job security makes people stressed across the UK. As this article says, stress at work has unfortunately reached a record high! If this is happening to you, it would be an excellent time to move on to a new position as we start a new year! And if it’s a person causing stress in your life, it’s time to say goodbye! After all, our health is most important, so toxic relationships and friendships need to go.
Hopefully, by this time next year, you will feel a lot happier and healthier!