The New Year brings a second chance to restart our lives by incorporating new habits. So, I found myself writing New Year’s resolutions in my personal diary with a new energy. 2023 saw a new me, setting the foundational steps for my future. So, I decided that this year will be the continuation of that progress. The New Year brings a second chance to restart our lives by incorporating new habits. So, I started writing New Year’s resolutions in my personal diary with a new energy. 2023 saw a new me, setting the foundational steps for my future. So, I decided that this year will carry forward that progress.
The new year’s time can be the treasure trove of anticipatory resolutions. But how long do we stick to them? One of my 2023 New Year’s resolutions included starting my personal blog. I took a whole year to reflect, analyze, and set in motion an unstoppable process that finally culminated in “A Riveting Lifestyle,” a sweet fruit of my fervent year-long commitment. This year, I dedicate 2024 to healthy resolutions. I am hell-bent on encouraging my fellow readers to include these healthy New Year’s resolutions and feel their transformative power. That’s why, I am spilling my New Year’s goals for 2024. Starting today.
Keeping Up With Healthy Resolutions in 2024
Starting this year with new healthy habits can make your life. I don’t encourage setting unattainable goals, but manageable ones through a consistent approach. Since 2023, I have followed 3 rules to establish a new habit and managed to complete some of the goals: Concentrate on developing one habit at a time; Treat it as a time-specific habit; Be ruthless and unapologetic with your habit routine.
The last rule is tremendously important for reaching any goal. Many external forces interfere with our goals, and we eventually let go of them midway. Therefore, embrace a focused and unapologetic stance when you follow these healthy resolutions. The following list may seem daunting initially, but having the goals written provides a sense of clarity.
11 Healthy New Year’s Resolutions
Resolution 1: Wake at 5:30–6:00 a.m.
I wake up between 7:15 and 7:45 a.m. inconsistently. My eyes usually see the light around 7, but my sluggishness prevents me from leaving my bed. This affects my time management and spoils my time before I leave for work. However, this 2024 year, I adamantly decided to pick a waking time and build a consistent morning routine around it. I signed up for a yoga class for a 6:15 a.m. session, anticipating the following benefits. I will wake up early at my chosen time. I will practice yoga. I will develop discipline and consistency. Also, a bonus advantage: I will quit hitting snooze! This extra modicum of sleep does more damage to the body than sleeping late. The benefits of early waking are numerous, but a good night’s rest should precede it, which brings me to my second goal.
Resolution 2: Get 8–9 hours of sleep
I do not intend to repeat this chaotic cycle of sleeping late in 2024. Although I have managed to get up around 7:30 a.m. every day, I have grappled with staying awake well past my ideal bedtime. Plus, the resulting fatigue after waking overpowers me, leaving me regretful for not sleeping early. In these irritable moments, my precious minutes slip away needlessly. I could invest these valuable minutes in brushing my teeth, drinking water, or doing mindful activities. Instead, I spend these crucial minutes fussing over trivial matters.
Resolution 3: Increase daily water intake
Water is the first thought that enters my mind after waking up early. And for the right reasons. After the body’s nocturnal time clock, water is my only choice to recuperate from dehydration. I usually intake 2-3 liters daily, but my body requires more due to its high internal temperature. So, increasing daily water intake (3–4 liters/day) is one of my healthy resolutions for 2024 to de-stress my body and regulate its temperature. Drinking water in the required amounts is a blessing. Water is the best cleansing agent as it helps remove toxins from the body. Water helps reduce the body’s inflammation. Water can help reduce blemishes on your face and body. Water can regulate blood circulation.
Resolution 4: Continue exercise routine
Moving the body in the morning means enhancing proper blood regulation and promoting mood-boosting endorphins. Every morning, I ensure at least a 30-minute exercise routine (which includes stretching, squats, and wall push-ups). A few months ago, exercising in the morning scared me as it takes a solid amount of energy to leave your comfortable bed. I was the prey of this thought.
Resolution 5: Practice meditation and breathing exercises daily
Each morning, as the sun begins its journey, I intend to practice a gentle meditation ritual. This ritual, born from a desire for inner tranquility and spiritual fulfilment has become an indispensable New Year’s resolution for me. Embracing just 10 minutes of meditation in the morning is crucial for me to ensure a positive start. Ten minutes daily of it can change your perspective, increase self-awareness, reduce negative self-talk, and do many other things. I couldn’t wait any longer to incorporate them into my morning ritual. I practice simple breathing exercises whenever I become anxious. I cannot keep blaming the world for normalizing stress when I am only bantering. For me, pranayama has become my go-to breathing exercise that calms me.
Resolution 6: Live less stressed
Relationship conflicts, mounting bills, social media likes, and other contributing factors are so ingrained in our lives that it is almost impossible to be free from stress. Although we feel the side effects of stress, this society normalizes them as a badge of honor to prove your dedication. But you can break this toxic cycle. Relieving stress isn’t a complex formula; it requires intentional listening. So, I promised myself to address any stress signs and maintain boundaries. Say no to anything that might cause discomfort. Write down all the identified triggers and search for the pattern.
Resolution 7: Practice self-care activities
Self-care is more than just a trending word on social media. It is the way of life. Practicing self-care is like writing a love letter to yourself. Love your body and mind by performing relaxing activities. Self-care activities help transition my work-day notions into a relaxed, self-loving time. Once you begin this routine, your mind happily gravitates towards this moment. A self-care routine can be optimized for your busy schedule.
I started using aromatic-scented candles, taking long evening showers twice a week, and restarting my writing routine. I must say your sensory nodes activate the moment you light a candle. I find myself more relaxed after inhaling the soothing aroma of the scented candle. I couple this relaxing activity with writing poetry. This double dose elevates my mood, and I look forward to my self-care routine.
Resolution 8: Limit screen time exposure
I let go of the teenage version of myself to adopt healthy practices. All those late-night digital escapades aren’t worth it, and I suggest you do the same. The constant exposure to the screen badly affects the body’s circadian rhythm, affecting your sleep and throwing you into chapfallen mornings the next day instead of rejuvenating you. I am a content writer by profession, so most of my time is spent working in front of screens. However, I strictly set 9:30 p.m. as my threshold to minimize screen exposure. I reluctantly agree that I succeed on some days but fail on others. Hence, I included limiting screen time in healthy New Year’s resolutions.
Resolution 9: Journal your worries away
I fantasized about journaling like the ones on Instagram, but my busy schedule made it impossible. I recently discovered the Journal app on my iPhone and could not be more thankful. This stream-of-consciousness activity regulates the dopamine release, and I instantly feel better. Hence, I aim to make it a daily practice (at least for 10 minutes) to structure my thought process. Also, I don’t want to restrict myself to a specific time for journaling. I want to write when I want to. I want to give myself this much liberty as my cluttered thoughts fail to announce themselves before entering my mind. Hence, a digital journal works for me.
Resolution 10: Read a book before bedtime
I am a book lover, and I find reading irresistible. But the past few days have been hard for my reading routine. Blame it on unexpected responsibilities and workload; I cannot carve out personal reading time, both during the day and at night. However, I want to develop this habit before bedtime to avoid watching Instagram reels mindlessly. (I want to keep my evenings free for social activities.) As an English literature student, my college time involved reading numerous novels and research papers, and it hurts me that I am not taking the time to read enough. So, I intend to create a routine where I will slip into something soft and comfortable, light a scented candle, dim the lights, and read a few pages of the book. Eventually, this relaxing atmosphere will lull me into a sleepy state.
Resolution 11: Replacing caffeine with green juices
I am a tea-holic, and I don’t want to think about spending my day without sipping on my favorite ginger tea. This addictive thought is why I mostly fail to drink green juices. But no amount of addiction can change the fact that too much caffeine consumption is detrimental to your health. It slowly erodes your body internally and reduces its immunity. I will admit that I am slowly recovering from my caffeine addiction. As part of my New Year’s resolutions, I want to reduce my daily caffeine intake to only two small tea cups (which aren’t big). Also, I am positively progressing with green juices.
Conclusion
Achieving these healthy New Year’s resolutions is a slow process that requires discipline. But they aren’t impossible. Following these healthy resolutions can completely transform your life from living mundanely to looking forward to new experiences. And my journey has just begun. The arrival of the New Year often brings a sense of opportunity to conquer new goals. And being part of the same race, I decided to share my New Year’s resolutions, emboldened with a promise to achieve as many as I can.