You hear about the same old resolutions every year – lose weight, eat better, and exercise more. But if you’re like most people, you don’t keep those resolutions for very long.
Your healthy New Year’s Resolution this year doesn’t have to be boring or difficult. Commit to adding a little nature into your everyday life and get healthier in the process!
For many people, a healthy resolutions is a challenge that can be met only if they commit to it wholeheartedly, and in doing so, they’re setting themselves up for failure. By the time February rolls around, they’ve gone back to their old habits.
Achieving a significant personal goal takes time. Change is a process that takes place over weeks and months, not days and weeks. Pushing yourself too hard can have the opposite effect of what you want because it can lead to burnout.
Here are some healthy resolutions to bring nature into your everyday life:
1. Grow a plant and nourish it
Your environment can influence your mind, and your mind can influence your environment. But what if you could change the world around you by simply changing the way you think?
What if you could grow a plant, nurture it, care for it, and watch it grow?
A plant is a metaphor for change that starts from within and an object of beauty that positively affects those who view it. You don’t have to be a gardener to do this. It can be any plant; there are many varieties that are relatively easy to tend to and maintain. Growing plants indoors has become quite popular recently with people who live in apartments or don’t have much space outside their homes.
Think about all the new beginnings you will achieve by caring for one small living thing. This is similar to taking care of yourself and nurturing your health, emotions, and relationships. Nurture yourself with good food, regular exercise, and plenty of rest.
2. Spend more time with your family in the nature
Resolving to spend more time outdoors has many benefits, including a healthier you and a sustainable environment.
The health benefits of spending time in nature are well documented, from reducing stress levels to improving sleep patterns, lowering blood pressure, and boosting creativity. Spending time outdoors also encourages physical activity – and as we know, regular physical activity is key for overall health.
3. BYOB: Bring your bags for shopping
There are a couple of good reasons to adopt a “bring your own bag” lifestyle. As a consumer, you’ll be reducing the number of plastic bags you use and throwing away, which is better for the environment. You’ll also be supporting local businesses by giving them your business.
4. Eat organic food
Organic food is not only better for you but can also be grown without pesticides and GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Eating organic can reduce your risk for cancer, diabetes, and other diseases linked to pesticide exposure. And since you’re avoiding all of the toxic pesticides that have been linked with these diseases, you’ll also be saving yourself from major health problems down the road. This will also save you money and help clean up the environment at the same time!
5. Walk, hike, use public transportation.
Take public transportation to work, even one day a week. If you live in a city with good public transit, pledge to take it on a designated day of the week — every Monday or Wednesday, for example. You’ll save on parking and gas, and you’ll be reducing air pollution.
Walk or bike to make short trips instead of driving. It doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing choice: Park farther away from your destination and get in some exercise.
Go hiking with your friends after class or on the weekends. Hiking is a fun exercise, especially if you plan it as an adventure with lots of stops along the way to enjoy the scenery!
6. Less use of plastic
Are you interested in becoming more eco-friendly? Even if you’re not ready to go completely green, reducing your carbon footprint can be as simple as forgetting about disposable plastic water bottles or turning off the lights every time you leave a room. Say no to plastic bags, plastic straws, and throwaway cups.
Replace the things you use with sustainable alternatives.
7. Wear sustainable clothes
Every time you make a purchase, you have the power to choose between products that are made from sustainable materials and those manufactured in ways that harm our natural resources. By making informed decisions about what you buy and supporting companies committed to sustainable practices, you can help protect the places you love and get involved with conservation efforts year-round.
8. Encourage others to protect the environment.
Be a role model. If you’re serious about saving the planet, you shouldn’t drive to work if public transit is an option. Go paperless with your bills and recycle the junk mail you get in the mail. Encourage others to protect the environment by taking part in Earth Day activities and helping to raise awareness.
Share your knowledge. Be an advocate for the environment. Encourage others to take action. Spread the word on social media or write a blog post about why you care about saving the Earth and what you’re doing in your own life to help protect our planet.
9. Speak out against the inequalities – racism, favoritism, unequal distribution of wealth
To speak out against the inequalities that continue to plague our society. As long as there is racism, favoritism, unequal distribution of wealth, and other social injustices worldwide, we should take action to change it. Don’t turn your back if you see or hear something wrong happening around you. Be a voice for change and help make this world a better place for everyone.
Say what you feel is right. Don’t be afraid to speak up and let others know if things aren’t right in your workplace or neighborhood. You never know who might end up being your biggest supporter, so have faith in yourself and your beliefs.
10. Detox your body and your home – Try using natural cleansers
The new year is a great time to kick bad habits and start fresh. The cold winter months are the perfect time to freshen up your home and body with natural, healthy products. By reducing toxins in your everyday life, you can reduce the risk of health issues like headaches and allergies.
Here’s how to detox your home and remove toxic chemicals from your life:
Home:
Start by cleaning out your cabinets and getting rid of any unnecessary cleaning products. You should replace harsh chemical cleaners with natural alternatives that are safe for children and pets but work just as well for cleaning floors, counters, and appliances in your kitchen.
Another way to detoxify your home is to use nontoxic paints, stains, adhesives, and sealants around your house. Natural materials like linseed oil, beeswax, and walnut oil are great alternatives to chemical-based paints, stains, glues, and finishes.
Body:
Detoxifying your body should be a new year goal, and it is simple if you start at the root of the problem — the foods you eat. Start eating whole foods rich in nutrients rather than processed ingredients full of sugar and chemicals. The easiest way is to go back to basics — buy whole fruits instead of fruit juices; buy organic vegetables.
As with other New Year’s resolutions, you may find it hard to keep up with these good habits in the long term; however, incorporating small changes into your everyday life could help you achieve your goals for the new year.
Thus the New Year is a time for reflection and resolutions.
However, this should not just be an annual event. You need to take more time to consider what you are doing and how you are living your lives. This can be a new beginning. This can mean many things, from looking at our diets and lifestyles to ensuring that what we buy is sustainable and ethically made.
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