Whenever a new year rolls around, we’re often encouraged to make some kind of new year’s resolutions and add in some healthy habits. While they can be useful in framing our goals for the year and giving us something to work towards – many of us abandon these resolutions a few months (*cough* days) in. Usually, this is because the goals we set ourselves are not measurable for a year’s length in time. They’re overly optimistic.

It is great to dream big and as long as you’re working towards your goals you will see progress.

If you want to bring around change in 2022, it is better to focus on your lifestyle as a whole. By gradually introducing new healthy habits into your routine, you aren’t pressured to make an instantaneous change – meaning that the alterations you make a more likely to stick. 

With that in mind, here are five healthy habits for 2022.

Practice mindfulness. 

After an incredibly stressful two years, we could all use a little more peace in our daily lives. One way in which you can achieve this goal is by practicing mindfulness as a way to maintain your enthusiasm and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. If you’ve never practiced mindfulness before, don’t worry – there are plenty of guides available that will talk you through every step of the process. 

To kickstart this habit, a method I have recently started implementing is the RPM method. Rise. Pee. Meditate. Immediately once you wake up, get up, head to the bathroom, and settle into your meditation space. Stacking your habits is a good way to get into your habits.

Wake up 10 minutes earlier.

Nobody likes the sound of their morning alarm – so the thought of setting it even earlier may already have you shaking your head. Anybody can wake up 10 minutes earlier. How you use this time is key to your day too. Don’t stay in bed – get up and move to a different space in the house. Then, use this extra ten minutes to do something you enjoy. For example, you could check your horoscope, finish the chapter in your book, or meditate (see above step). Studies suggest that these extra ten minutes are great for clearing your mind, fighting fatigue, and can even boost your mood! 

Try something new each week.

Most new years resolutions are focused on self-development and growth. However, this can be achieved through new habits, too. For example, you could aim to try at least one new thing each week. This doesn’t mean that you need to move from skydiving to parasailing in order to find something you haven’t done before – as the challenges you set yourself can be much smaller and more manageable. For example, you could order a different meal from your favorite restaurant or pick out a book from a genre you typically walk past.

Go for a daily walk. 

Spending more time outdoors is a habit that benefits everyone – no matter what kind of lifestyle you lead. This is due to the fact that it can help to boost your body’s natural production of serotonin – often described as the happiness hormone. Walking upwards of 6,000 steps a day is a great way to achieve your overall fitness goals. While it may not seem that way, walking is actually one of the best forms of exercise there is – especially for those looking to return to fitness after a period of inactivity. 

What habits are you bringing into the new year? Lets talk more in the comments below!