We are constantly warned about the negative impact of unhealthy habits by both the media and those around us, and in an increasingly sedentary society, keeping fit has never been more important. Now, I’m far from the healthiest person (I’ve never been to the gym in my life) so I’m well aware that I’m far from a leading authority on healthiness, but at the same time, what better time to turn over a new leaf than the start of a new year?
Although I eat fairly well on average, I do struggle with finding time for exercise – especially with my office job during the week. So, this year, I’m determined to make some changes and begin leading a healthier life. These won’t be massive changes, but small steps are always beneficial and everyone’s got to start somewhere, right?
Here are five healthy habits I intend to keep up during 2019.
1. Walk More
My biggest personal goal for 2019 is to get out and walk more. With the hectic nature of last year, some of my interests got a little less attention that I would have liked, and walking was definitely one of them! This year, I hope to spend more time walking in the great outdoors, especially once the weather gets a little warmer. This goes hand in hand with another of my 2019 goals – to get back into geocaching, another hobby that I’ve neglected over the last year or so.
2. Mental Health
This is a big one for me this year. As I’ve got older, I’ve become more accepting of the fact that sometimes it’s okay not to be okay, as well as becoming more aware of my triggers and what can help improve my mental health when I’m feeling low. In 2019, I’ve taken the decision to try and put less pressure on myself to blog – a decision which was definitely not taken lightly, but one that I feel will have a big impact on my mental health. For the last few years, I’ve desperately been trying to churn out five blog posts a week on top of my day job, a social life, buying and moving into a new house and everything else! By no means am I looking to close The Writing Greyhound, but regular readers will probably notice a reduction in the frequency of my posts. Similarly, I’ve also decided to try and stop myself from feeling guilty for doing what I want. Say I want to finish reading a book - no problem – emails can wait until tomorrow. It’s a massively overused cliché, but we only get one life, so why spend it forcing yourself to do something you don’t feel like doing?
3. Cut Down on Coffee
Caffeine is brilliant when it comes to a little pick-me-up after a poor night’s sleep, but too much caffeine can lead to a whole host of problems. From sleeping problems to heart palpitations, caffeine is best in small doses – saved for when you really need it! Although I didn’t start drinking coffee until fairly recently, I became a lot more dependent on it when I was doing my best to recover from glandular fever. Now, several years on, I think it’s high time to cut down on the amount of coffee I drink and get back to a healthier routine.
4. Slim Down Portion Sizes
I like to think that I have a pretty balanced diet, and while I’ve never been one for strict diets, calorie counting and watching what I eat, I know that, on the whole, I eat fairly well. However, the biggest food-related issue for me is portion sizes. Since moving in with my partner last year, I’ve been eating bigger portions than I used to at mealtimes as we have tried to adapt to cooking just for the two of us. So, this year I’m determined to break the habit and get back to slimmer, healthier portion sizes.
5. Less Computer Time
This last one might seem a bit counter-productive for a blogger, but towards the end of last year, I really started to notice the toll that near-constant computer usage was taking on my body. I would go to bed at the end of the day and despite being tired, not be able to fall asleep due to too much blue light, my eyes would be sore and itchy 24/7 and I had a lot of problems with my back, shoulders, wrists and hands due to poor posture and a lack of movement. This was a real wake-up call for me, and while I can’t escape the shackles of the computer at work, I can focus on cutting down my computer time at home. As a result, this year I’m determined to spend less time on the computer and more time doing other things – which should also tie in with my second goal on the list!
Of course, leading a healthy life incorporates everything from diet and exercise to sleep and mental health, so these five habits are barely scratching the surface! However, I’m happy with working forwards in small steps, so let’s see where 2019 takes me!
Here are five healthy habits I intend to keep up during 2019.
1. Walk More
My biggest personal goal for 2019 is to get out and walk more. With the hectic nature of last year, some of my interests got a little less attention that I would have liked, and walking was definitely one of them! This year, I hope to spend more time walking in the great outdoors, especially once the weather gets a little warmer. This goes hand in hand with another of my 2019 goals – to get back into geocaching, another hobby that I’ve neglected over the last year or so.
2. Mental Health
This is a big one for me this year. As I’ve got older, I’ve become more accepting of the fact that sometimes it’s okay not to be okay, as well as becoming more aware of my triggers and what can help improve my mental health when I’m feeling low. In 2019, I’ve taken the decision to try and put less pressure on myself to blog – a decision which was definitely not taken lightly, but one that I feel will have a big impact on my mental health. For the last few years, I’ve desperately been trying to churn out five blog posts a week on top of my day job, a social life, buying and moving into a new house and everything else! By no means am I looking to close The Writing Greyhound, but regular readers will probably notice a reduction in the frequency of my posts. Similarly, I’ve also decided to try and stop myself from feeling guilty for doing what I want. Say I want to finish reading a book - no problem – emails can wait until tomorrow. It’s a massively overused cliché, but we only get one life, so why spend it forcing yourself to do something you don’t feel like doing?
3. Cut Down on Coffee
Caffeine is brilliant when it comes to a little pick-me-up after a poor night’s sleep, but too much caffeine can lead to a whole host of problems. From sleeping problems to heart palpitations, caffeine is best in small doses – saved for when you really need it! Although I didn’t start drinking coffee until fairly recently, I became a lot more dependent on it when I was doing my best to recover from glandular fever. Now, several years on, I think it’s high time to cut down on the amount of coffee I drink and get back to a healthier routine.
4. Slim Down Portion Sizes
I like to think that I have a pretty balanced diet, and while I’ve never been one for strict diets, calorie counting and watching what I eat, I know that, on the whole, I eat fairly well. However, the biggest food-related issue for me is portion sizes. Since moving in with my partner last year, I’ve been eating bigger portions than I used to at mealtimes as we have tried to adapt to cooking just for the two of us. So, this year I’m determined to break the habit and get back to slimmer, healthier portion sizes.
5. Less Computer Time
This last one might seem a bit counter-productive for a blogger, but towards the end of last year, I really started to notice the toll that near-constant computer usage was taking on my body. I would go to bed at the end of the day and despite being tired, not be able to fall asleep due to too much blue light, my eyes would be sore and itchy 24/7 and I had a lot of problems with my back, shoulders, wrists and hands due to poor posture and a lack of movement. This was a real wake-up call for me, and while I can’t escape the shackles of the computer at work, I can focus on cutting down my computer time at home. As a result, this year I’m determined to spend less time on the computer and more time doing other things – which should also tie in with my second goal on the list!
Of course, leading a healthy life incorporates everything from diet and exercise to sleep and mental health, so these five habits are barely scratching the surface! However, I’m happy with working forwards in small steps, so let’s see where 2019 takes me!
What healthy habits are you hoping to keep up in 2019? Let me know in the comments below!
The caffeine aside as I don't drink that much coffee, I have all the same resolutions! The computer time in particular is an important one for me. I love working so I tend to spend far more time on the laptop each day than I should. Working from my desk only and then leaving my laptop there from dinner time onward is helping me a lot though!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a good way to make sure you cut down on computer time - I might try it myself!
DeleteI love your tips :) they are all accessible and practical which I think is so important. I love reading posts like this when they are genuine and relatable. Thank you so much for sharing! Rach 💜
ReplyDeletehttps://rachaelhope.co.uk/
Aww thanks so much Rach! xx
DeleteI love your list. I have a pedometer on my phone and try to do 25,000 steps a week. I also try to do a daily crossword. It is much easy to be motivated to stay healthy in the summer when the weather is better though is not it?
ReplyDeleteOh definitely, I'm always out and about in the summer!
DeleteI'm walking more too - I've got lazy and jump on the bus far too often. So far, so good even in the cold - good luck with your list, and thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, and here's to a happy and healthy 2019!
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