Lots of us make big New Year’s resolutions, but they can be tough to stick to. But smaller ones? They’re a lot easier to sustain and they’re still good for you. Instead of strict diets and juice cleanses, set the bar lower with something you can actually commit to, like these suggestions for doable goals.
- Upgrade your dessert- When you’re craving something sweet, instead of just going for chocolate, try a healthier snack like chocolate-covered almonds, chocolate-dipped banana bites, or a mix with chocolate chips, popcorn, and nuts.
- Sit differently- If you sit a lot in your office job, try to sit better by pretending you have a tail and bending at your hips slightly so you aren’t sitting on it. This can help you elongate your spine and untuck your pelvis, which is better for your spine.
- Set a bedtime alarm- Have a tough time getting to bed when you need to? Help make it happen by setting an alarm for 45 minutes before lights-out, so you know when to start your wind-down routine to get everything done and still get the sleep you need.
- Walk to every destination within one mile- Not only is it better for the planet, walking instead of driving can help you lose weight, boost your mood, lower your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer, and can help you live longer, too.
- Check in with yourself mid-meal- Forget dieting, learn to eat mindfully and stop halfway through your meal to see how full you are and how much more you think you need to eat to be satisfied. Then stop when you are.
- Eat veggies at breakfast- Beyond avocado toast, try tossing spinach or grated sweet potatoes into your eggs, stirring grated zucchini into pancake batter, or adding shredded carrots into oatmeal.
- Exercise for a few minutes- Ideally, we’re supposed to get two-and-a-half hours of moderate-intensity physical activity every week, but if you can’t workout 30 minutes five days a week, do what you can, when you can. Any exercise is better than none at all.