Planning a Healthy Year

I am not a doctor – any views expressed here I have researched to the best of my ability but may not reflect your doctors advice or be the right thing for you 

Habits are not an easy thing to make or break, it can take anywhere from 21 to 254 days to adopt new habits. A good way to start creating new habits is to first decide what those habits should be. Once this is done you can start planning how to achieve these habits. If you’ve ever met me, you’ll know I’m not the most organized time-conscious person in the world. I do however have a knack for planning.

I hardcore planned at least the first few months of my 26th year, my birthday is the 10th of January, starting with what goals I have followed by if these goals have a specific time frame. Since they technically don’t I simply made the decision to plan what activities fall in line with the habits I want to cultivate.

Drink More Water

Drinking more water. This one is pretty simple, I don’t drink enough fluids throughout the day to remain properly hydrated and it actually wreaks havoc on some of my systems: think brain fog and acne which I have always known was linked to my inability to pick up anything other than tea or coffee throughout the day but still haven’t done anything about. So how do I encourage myself to drink more water? First I got myself a super pretty water bottle and a favourite mug, then I did something a little strange: I set up alarms to go off every few hours. Each alarm tells me I must drink a glass of water or a cup of hydrating herbal tea. If this method doesn’t work for you there are a ton of pins on Pinterest about getting a gallon bottle and marking off when to drink a certain amount by. That might be your jam, it just wasn’t mine, do what works for you and makes you happy

Exercise Regularly

So I’m a bit of a fitness freak, at least when I actually get into the habit, unfortunately, I also often set myself lofty unattainable goals (looking at you 2019 Lauren who wanted to run an ultramarathon in a year, got slightly injured on a 13-mile run and then chickened out). To start this year I’m deciding not to train for anything specific but just to get an hour of activity every day even if it’s just a walk. I like to keep things interesting, on top of weight-training two times a week I made a weekly schedule (thank you google sheets) that includes running, walking, spinning and rowing. You don’t necessarily have to plan it as much as I do, it may be that you just walk every day or run or whatever sport tickles your fancy, I just get easily bored.

If exercise is a habit you want to cultivate make sure you include rest days in your schedule, especially if you’re doing vigorous exercise. Additionally, you should make sure you have the right gear before you head out, don’t plan a long run without a water bottle conducive to doing a long run. Get properly fitted for running shoes while you’re at it, there’s nothing worse than getting a blister because they last for so long and make training a bummer.

Once you’ve made a plan for how to make new habits have fun with it, don’t worry about missing a day (though you probably shouldn’t miss a week) it all adds up in the long run. Future you will thank you for making healthy habits.