Top 10 New Year's Resolutions Worth Keeping
New Year's Resolutions are like a "catch twenty-two" in my mind---in one way I think they're good, but in another way I think they become this looming cloud above my head filling me with guilt because I didn't achieve them.
So, because resolutions have such mixed feelings for so many people I thought it might be good to give ourselves a list of New Year's resolutions that ARE worth keeping.
1. Sleep More
We sleep to restore brain chemicals and rest the body. Some researchers believe that the brain organizes and stores memories during sleep. Lack of sleep can affect our daytime functioning, hormonal balance, appetite, and immune system. Read more here!
2. Drink More Water
Water makes up more than two thirds of human body weight, and without water, we would die in a few days. The human brain is made up of 95% water, blood is 82% and lungs 90%. A mere 2% drop in our body's water supply can trigger signs of dehydration: fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on smaller print, such as a computer screen. (Are you having trouble reading this? Drink up!) Mild dehydration is also one of the most common causes of daytime fatigue. An estimated seventy-five percent of Americans have mild, chronic dehydration. Pretty scary statistic for a developed country where water is readily available through the tap or bottle water.
Water is important to the mechanics of the human body. The body cannot work without it, just as a car cannot run without gas and oil. In fact, all the cell and organ functions that make up our entire anatomy and physiology depend on water for their functioning. Read more here!
3. Eat More Greens
Dark green leafy vegetables are perhaps the most potent superfood on the planet. They are also the most ignored and avoided foods as well. If you consider the powerful dose of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients that we get from spinach, kale, chard, collards, dandelion and other greens, it’s a wonder we can live without them. Read more here!
4. Take the Stairs
Stair climbing is a unique form of exercise that can have a powerful and positive impact on your health over time.
While most of us think of exercise as 'sport', the scientific evidence shows it is everyday activities like walking and stair climbing that are most closely associated with improved health.
Stair climbing is recommended by doctors and health authorities worldwide because high quality studies show:
Climbing just eight flights of stairs a day lowers average early mortality risk by 33%
Seven minutes stair climbing a day can halve the risk of heart attack over 10 years
Just two minutes extra stair climbing a day is enough to stop average middle age weight gain
Stair climbing delivers these benefits by improving our cardiovascular fitness. It's officially classed as a 'vigorous' form exercise and burns more calories per minute than jogging. Read more here!
5. Make Coffee at Home
In truth, Coffee is the #1 source of antioxidants in the diet of most Americans, and a regular cup of black coffee has an extremely low calorie count (a typical cup of black coffee has only 2 calories - that's right ... just TWO!), so in moderation coffee can be a healthy beverage for a lot of people - and it's a popular way to boost energy and encourage you to stay active during the day - something which can improve overall health. But, this delicious morning beverage may be one of the largest monsters eating up our extra cash and setting us back by $5-$15 per day. If we just made a few small adjustments by making our coffee at home instead of buying a latte at a coffee shop, how would that impact our overall budget? While the price of coffee at your local grocery store is still manageable, most coffee drinkers are in the habit of paying a premium for the convenience (and delicious but unhealthy additions) which come when purchasing their beverage at the local coffee shop. Titans like Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts (who combine to own 50% of the out-of-home market share) are cashing in and recently Starbucks announced another price increase to reflect the rising price of coffee. It's safe to say this price increase is also a direct response to the increase in demand for their products among consumers who prefer their coffee on the go. Read more here!
6. Hug and Kiss More
There is no big secret in the fact that cuddling makes you feel good when you’re in a new or established relationship. But it’s also something that you miss greatly when you’re single and searching for a true partner in life. But did you know there’s actually a scientific reason for that? It’s true! There are many surprising and amazing proven benefits of Cuddling, Hugging and Kissing—so read on, and you’ll want to cuddle or kiss or hug someone right now!
The Human body is controlled by Brain and Heart and they depend on love and affection to a large extend. Giving the necessary love and affection helps in generating Oxytocin which is released in response to physical touch.
The neuropeptide oxytocin, released by your pituitary gland, is a naturally occurring hormone in your body with incredibly powerful, health-giving properties. The daily dose of Hugging has have beneficial effects on your heart health as well.
Do you Know! A 20-second hug, along with 10 minutes of hand-holding, also reduces the harmful physical effects of stress, including its impact on your blood pressure and heart rate. Isn’t that a amazing. Something that can help you improves health at no cost.
Scientists are saying that hugging and kissing can have long-term physical and mental health benefits. Read more here!
7. Breathe More
We all do it on average 20,000 times a day - but are we doing it properly?
While most of us never give breathing a second thought, the way you draw breath can affect your physical and mental wellbeing.
Breathing properly can reduce your stress levels, improve your workouts and boost your immunity to infections and illnesses. Poor breathing can lead to panic attacks and even conditions like insomnia and depression. Read more here!
8. Read More
Reading gives your brain a different kind of workout than watching TV or listening to the radio. Whether you’re absorbed in a page-turner, reading a proverb or simply scanning an instruction manual for your coffee maker, “parts of the brain that have evolved for other functions—such as vision, language, and associative learning—connect in a specific neural circuit for reading, which is very challenging," Ken Pugh, PhD, president and director of research of Haskins Laboratories, told Oprah magazine. The habit spurs your brain to think and concentrate. Read more here!
9. Laugh More
More than just brightening up your day, sharing a good laugh can actually improve your health. The sound of laughter draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, strengthen your immune system, and diminish pain. As children, we used to laugh hundreds of times a day, but as adults life tends to be more serious and laughter more infrequent. By seeking out more opportunities for humor and laughter, though, you can improve your emotional health, strengthen your relationships, find greater happiness—and even add years to your life. Read more here!
10. Pray More
Prayer is one of the leading pastimes in self-reflection and gratitude. Having the ability to draw inward and speculate is a fundamental skill if one wishes to grow and achieve an unlimited number of goals and grow spiritually. Praying, specifically, provides such benefits as not coming to understand oneself, but promotes virtuous ideals and personal character growth. It also connects you to a God who can help put every stressful situation into a better perspective. Read more here!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
May this be the most blissful, beautiful, creative and love-filled year you have ever experienced.
