2021 is finally here! We’ve had a rough start as a country, but I’m still feeling optimistic about making the most out of this year. I can’t think of a better time to make healthy resolutions and decide which area of your life could use some fine-tuning than now.
The food we consume plays a significant role in our overall health, so do other factors such as sleep and mental health. In this blog post, I share 6 healthy habits for 2021.
Drink Water
If you’ve been trying to get into the habit of drinking the recommended amount of water daily, there’s no better time to start than now. Fill up a bottle of water every morning and keep it with you. Add lemon or any of your favourite fruits to spice things up a little. Water does wonders for your skin and your overall health.
Affirmations or mantras
Positive thinking is a potent tool. The quality of your thoughts determines the quality of your life. Saying positive things out loud and hearing yourself saying them is an effective way to program your brain to think positively. Positive affirmations or mantras are phrases that we repeat to ourselves to provide encouragement and motivation. You can do this first thing in the morning or whenever you need to regroup.
Stay active
This blog post would be incomplete if I were to omit this point. Keep that body moving, mama! Grab that yoga mat, hit the road or take a walk. Do whatever brings you joy! Exercise does wonders for both your physical and mental health.
Go to bed early
I’m confident that I’m not the only mom that gets tempted to stay up once the kids are asleep so that I can catch up on my favourite series. Don’t fall into that trap! Try getting at least 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night. Of course, life happens, and it’s sometimes not possible. When I manage to get enough sleep, I find that I’m more productive, calm and my creative juices overflow.
Stillness
Meditation, journaling and praying are part of my morning routine. I use this time to clear my mind and reconnect with myself. A few minutes of intentional quiet time has been proven to boost resilience and emotional wellbeing.
Practicing gratitude
Here’s the thing, as human beings, we tend to get caught up in this vicious cycle of always wanting more. We pray for a promotion, and if we get that promotion, we start praying for a bigger house or a new car. It’s never enough. Now there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being hungry for growth—that’s part of life. But if you are continually chasing the next big thing, you’ll never find true happiness. Have you thought to yourself, “I’ll be happier once I earn more money, or I’ll be happier when I have my own business?” The truth is once you achieve any of those things, you’ll keep moving the goal post.
Reduce Screen time
I’m sure you knew this was coming. How often have you picked up your phone to read a message, and you end up scrolling through Twitter or Instagram? We all do it! The truth is most of us spend way too much time staring into those small screens. If you want to reduce your screen time, consider the following options— mute WhatsApp notifications, deactivate app notifications and allocate time to scroll through social media.
Click here to join my five-day challenge that will help you to reduce your screen time.
Remember, it’s the little things that we do throughout the day that determine the quality of our lives, and it is up to us to make sure that we prioritise ourselves. What are some of your healthy resolutions for 2021? I look forward to hearing from you!
Love,
B
CREDIT:
Photography: https://www.elsiebphotography.co.za