It’s the New Year, which is a time when most people make big, drastic changes.
A great area to focus on is creating a healthier lifestyle for yourself.
This doesn't happen overnight, but the returns on your investment in yourself are immense.
Here’s how to reach your health goals this year.
Making the Decision to Change Your Life
To experience the short and long-term benefits of a healthier lifestyle, you must first decide to do it. Deciding to get healthier is a commitment that requires consistency and effort.
The changes won't happen overnight, so you must accept that it could take a while to see results, but the consistency will pay off.
Not only will you experience physical changes, but you'll realize mental health and financial benefits, too.
Only you can decide where you should make changes first.
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We encourage you to take inventory of your lifestyle and where you are mentally, physically, and financially to determine where to begin.
For example, you may already be experiencing health issues and want to get better, or you may worry about your family history of certain issues and want to prevent diseases you may be prone to. Either way, small, steady steps are the way to a better future.
Which Changes Affect Your Life the Most?
You might wonder where you should start to change your life the most.
The key is to start small and make changes you know you can stick to regularly, as consistency is key.
You can implement multiple steps at once, but focus on making small changes so nothing feels drastic or too hard, causing you to stop.
Try these tips if you're looking for ways to save money and feel better.
Exercise
Joining a gym might not be in your budget right now, but it should be. Yes, it's an investment that increases your monthly costs, but it can pay off in the long run.
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When you exercise regularly, you decrease the risk of serious issues like heart disease, diabetes, infectious diseases, and some cancers.
Create fitness goals that include exercising 30 minutes a day, five days a week, mixing up cardio and strength training to train your body.
Eat Healthy
Eating healthy may also feel like an investment, especially with the higher grocery store prices, but it's an investment in your health. Try shopping at the premier grocery store, only purchasing whole foods, and skipping the convenience foods that may be on sale or cheaper but worse for your health. Make it a goal to eat the colors of the rainbow at every meal to get proper nutrition.
A balanced diet is the best way to avoid chronic illnesses and to improve your immune system.
Adopt an 80/20 lifestyle where you eat healthy 80% of the time and allow yourself to splurge 20%. This is a great balance for your mind and body and helps you stay healthy all year long.
Visit the Doctor Regularly
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You might think regular doctor visits are too expensive, but they are an investment in yourself.
When you see the doctor regularly, you can take care of issues early on before they become more problemsome and expensive.
For example, knowing early that you’re showing signs of pre-diabetes or high cholesterol can help you adopt better habits and turn your health around before you experience a major illness or disaster.
Of course, having insurance is the key to affording doctor appointments, and there are many options for people of all income levels.
Returns Happen Faster Than You Think
While we are promoting small, slow steps, returns happen faster than you think.
The key is to pay attention to what happens in your life.
Some common benefits you’ll experience include:
- Improved energy – Notice your energy levels and how much they've changed since you implemented exercise habits or eating healthy. Is it easier to get up in the morning, or maybe you can accomplish more in your day? Keep a journal of your accomplishments and notice the progress as you change your habits.
- Better sleep – If sleep was an issue, keep a sleep log or use a wearable that tracks your sleep. You may find that as you learn to deal with stress and treat your body better, it's easier to fall asleep, wake up, or get better quality sleep.
- Stronger immune system – The more you take care of yourself, the stronger your immune system will get. Notice how often you get sick or don’t feel ‘right’ and determine if it’s getting better.
Paying attention to the small details can help you realize how much your life is changing, even if it’s one small step at a time.
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Where Should You Start?
The bigger question is where you should start.
It can feel overwhelming as you look at your life.
Maybe you feel like you don’t eat healthy, don’t exercise, and don’t have healthy habits.
Changing one small thing may not feel good enough, but it’s the best place to start.
Choose the habit you think you can change most consistently. For example, to change your eating habits, choose one area, such as adding more fruits or vegetables to each meal.
Track your progress and notice when it becomes a habit rather than a chore.
When setting your goals, use the SMART strategy, and once you’ve mastered one change, continue adding more goals.
Final Thoughts
The savings of being healthy are immense.
Not only do you improve your overall life, but you save yourself money!
Yes, it takes commitment and change to become a healthier version of yourself, but with consistent effort, it's possible.
Make 2024 the year you put yourself first, create a healthy lifestyle, and naturally improve your finances by putting yourself in a better place.
