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8 Healthy New Year’s Resolutions for 2018

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New Year’s resolutions are all about self-improvement, healthy choices and personal growth. The secret to a successful resolution is making small but significant changes instead of radical lifestyle changes that you can’t maintain. Need a boost? We’ve got a few ideas to help you start 2018 off on the right foot.

Meditate

It’s no secret that stress causes a host of ailments including high blood pressure and depression. Mindfulness-based meditation practices can reduce your stress levels and with it, your risk for disease. Everyone has a few minutes to spare — and just 10 minutes a day can change your outlook and improve your well-being.  

Start the Day with a Workout

Research shows that a morning workout is the most efficient way to keep your metabolism fired up all day long. Not to mention, getting your endorphins flowing early in the day might curb your caffeine addiction. Even if you’re not much of a morning person, switching your exercise routine from night to morning could make you one.

Eat Breakfast

If you’re someone who tends to skip the most important meal of day, this is the year to change that habit. People who skip breakfast are more likely to be overweight (binge snacking, anyone!?), suffer from memory loss, and have less energy than those who do.

Find a Work-Life Balance

Technology makes it easy to take work home, but just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Answering emails on the weekends and holidays – yes, we’re all guilty of this – can take a toll on our mental and physical health. This year, find ways to have a healthier relationship with your job.

Learn to Cook

Cooking at home is cheaper and healthier than ordering takeout, which tends to be high in calories, fat and sodium. Cooking for yourself (and for friends) is a satisfying new skill that will keep you slim and your wallet fat. If you do a good enough job, your friends will never let you quit the habit.

Read More

Keeping your brain sharp is just as important as keeping your muscles strong. Not only will you learn new things by reading more, but mentally stimulating activities have been known to help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Buy Local

Shopping local is not only good for the environment and the economy, it’s good for you, too. The less time and distance between the farm and your table, the less likely it is that your food will have lost any important nutrients. While fresh local goods may be harder to find in January, remember that there’s a lot of benefits to shopping at the farmer’s market is worth the effort.  

Run a Marathon (or 5K)

This is different than the traditional fitness resolution because it gives you a clear goal with a solid deadline. Goal-setting is good for your overall mental health, but when that goal is fitness-based and specific your physical well-being is sure to skyrocket. Training for a race such as the Blue Cross Broad Street Run will not only improve your fitness but also your state of mind. Starting small with a 5K is a great place to get started.

Get more information on how Independence Blue Cross can be a part of your plan for health and wellness.