We don’t really believe in all of that “new year, new me” stuff, but you know what we do believe in? We believe in making a commitment to ourselves to take care of us in the coming year. Times have been pretty tough the last few years as we’ve made our way somewhat blindly through a global pandemic; and for a lot of us, both our mental and physical health has taken a toll. So let’s take the next year to focus on ourselves and little by little, day by day, we firmly believe we’ll see positive changes in our all-around health and well-being. Let’s take a look at ways we can take better care of ourselves.
Stay Hydrated (We Mean It!)
(image via: healthline)
Okay, just hear us out. We promise that when your body is getting the water it so desperately needs you will notice a difference. Your skin will be glowing, you won’t be bloated, you won’t experience any of those “my body is screaming for water” headaches, just trust us on this one and drink your water.
Make Sleep a Priority
Put the phone down, turn off the TV, drink some hot tea, and settle in for a good night’s rest because your body and your mind need it. A lot of us have been paying the price of a crazy sleep pattern, but let’s prioritize fixing that, you know, for us.
Use Vacay Days
(image via: critical cactus)
Work can be a lot, it can all be a lot. We have two tips here, one, use your vacation days because you know what? Your desk, your computer, your work will all still be there when you get back. And two, don’t wait until you’re completely burnt out to take said vacation days. Crazy to think about, right? But when you wait until you’re on the cusp of losing your mind, a vacation will help, sure, but you know what will be super hard? Going back to work. Now we aren’t saying that it’s always easy to go back to work after a glorious vacation, but we are saying if you sprinkle in a few long weekends, you’re less likely to get to that unhealthy, burnt-out point.
Just Say No
Saying no can be really difficult and oftentimes we feel incredibly guilty after doing so, but there is something you should know: it’s okay to say no. If you’re stressed, overworked, feeling anxious, and someone invites you to do something but you desperately need the evening to relax, prioritize yourself and just say no. Saying no will take some practice, but you’ll be so relieved when you start saying no.
Cut the Caffeine
(image via: medical news today)
Do not come at us with this one, coffee is the nectar of the gods, but we often have the tendency to overdo it with the caffeine whether it’s by way of coffee or energy drinks, and this just isn’t good for us. So consider slowly replacing caffeine with water or tea until you are down to maybe just one cup of coffee. Again, we promise you’ll notice a positive difference.