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There is a fatal flaw in New Year’s resolutions that extends to the majority of goal-setting: we all typically will bite off more than we can chew, and our intentions are simply unrealistic.

Thanks to this, we end up failing, inevitably, and feel guilty and filled with self-loathing by the time February rolls around!

This article outlines tips and tricks to setting resolves that will last. They are things that are not just doable, but enjoyable as well, and, thanks to this, will eventually become second-nature. You will forget that they were once a task you had to set yourself, and will find them as easy and fun to do as playing the online blackjack has to offer is.

Make a Point of Taking Time for Yourself

All of us are guilty of prioritising other people over ourselves, and as such see the new year in feeling stretched too thin, overextended, and, often, resentful. Take this as a period of learning for yourself, grow from the experience, and start implementing this lesson in 2018.

Give yourself permission to say no, and make sure that there is time for your own needs, desires, and wants in the new year. Whether it is organizing your wardrobe, doing a workout you love, or binge-watching your favourite show after a long day at work, make sure you have set time aside to fill your own cup before attempting to fill others’.

Stop Doing That Workout You Hate 

This is your year, and your time. You don’t have to jog every morning in order to lose weight, you don’t have to make time to step onto the treadmill, and you don’t have to hit a Zumba class every Wednesday evening.

If you hate doing these things, why are you forcing yourself to do them? If it’s because you feel you have to, you’re wrong. Use this new year to find an activity you really enjoy, and watch the results come quicker than you can say daily exercise!

Unplug a Little More Every Day 

You don’t have to break up with technology completely, something which is, for the most part, simply not possible anymore, but you can do small things to unplug your various devices and reconnect with yourself, your loved ones, and your environment.

Maybe you veto checking your emails before you have finished your first cup of coffee, or charge your phone in another room to ward off the habit of falling into late night Wiki-holes.

You could even make a tech-free day once a week -think Meat Free Monday with a twist, but try to find something that pulls you out of this habit and replaces it with one that will see you feeling better and more refreshed.

Learn One New Healthy Recipe that You Love 

It is more than possible to learn how to make one new dish over the course of 365 days, and while this may take some trial and error, even the process may well be enjoyable.

Once you have hit on a new dish that you really enjoy make sure you work it into your weekly meals, and you will find yourself enjoying all the parts of the process of eating better over the longer-term.

Easy Ways to Get Healthy

These small adjustments to what you are doing every day anyway will see you feeling great and showing the results in not time! Getting healthier does not mean that you have to change every aspect of how you love -sometimes simple changes are all you need. Don’t overburden yourself with one hundred new rules, either. Implement one change at a time, and, as you feel the benefits, make space for the next one to start impacting positively on your life.

Touch Your Toes

Grabbing your toes and pulling boosts the circulation in your feet after they have been housed in shoes for a while. Without proper circulation, the nerves and muscles in your toes won’t work properly, and you may experience pain in your back, hips, or knees. Take in a game or two of the online pokies NZ in order to relax after work, but do so without your shoes on and get some extra benefits while you are at it!

Wash Your Linen, Make Your Bed

Dust mites are a huge trigger for those of us with allergies, and these little guys love to make their home where you sleep. Clean ‘em out by laundering your bedding at least once a week in hot water, and make use of duvet and mattress covers that have been designed to combat them as you can.

Frequent Fliers Need to Fly Right

Always turn the air vent above your seat on, as this will protect you from the germs that are hitching a ride right along with you. Angle it so that the air blows down onto your face, since this filtered air will create a small barrier between you and the various bugs trying to make their way to you.

Keep Your Phone on Silent at Night

Set your phone so that emergency calls will be able to come through, and then turn your phone’s sound off, limiting texts and calls as you ready yourself for bed. This makes for a nice nighttime ritual that signals to your brain that it is time to rest.

Get Your Shots

Do you already get a flu vaccine once a year? Good work! Now add a TDaP booster to your regimen as well. TDaP stands for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, also known as whooping cough. Better safe than sorry!

Drop Your Drawers

Going commando -going sans underwear- is highly recommended every so often, especially if you suffer from UTIs on a regular basis. No undergarments, or those made of pure cotton, allow this area to dry out completely and inhibits the growth of bacteria that could otherwise make its way into your urethra and cause a nasty bladder infection.

If you are not comfortable going out and about without your undies on, try doing this once every few evenings or so, at home in the comfort of your own bed.

Keep it Simple and Stay on Track

As you can see, there is no major overhaul required to start living a healthier life. Find what works, and implement it as you can!

A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Fit and Healthy

While the decision to commit to a healthier lifestyle may seem daunting, putting your new habits into place does not need to be onerous. If you are unsure of where to start, the tips outlined here are a great way for you to meet your goals as you see your energy and overall well being increase exponentially.

As you wave goodbye to your old, indulgent way of life, you will find a great deal of satisfaction in honouring the new way of living that you are aiming for. Where do you begin? Well, creating a vision is never a bad idea!

Vanquish Your Doubt with Visualisation

Sit down in a quiet place and bring your fitness goals to mind. Close your eyes and see the results of your new choices: a fitter body, more energy, less unhealthy cravings. Imagine the way you will feel once you are on the road, and keep motivated to keep walking along it!

You can build in rewards as well, as you reach milestones, and make sure you celebrate each step you take! Perhaps you can take in an Aristocrat pokies game or two, or buy a book you have been eyeing -whatever will get you going is good enough!

Feed Your Fitness with Food that Strengthens You

Start drinking filtered water, as much as you can. Water will remove toxins from your body, clear your skin, control your appetite, and boost your energy overall. Start with a litre, build up to two, and aim for three as your end goal.

Cut out sugar completely. Stevia is an excellent substitute which keeps your blood sugar levels stable as you lose weight.

Eat smaller meals more frequently, grazing every two and a half to three hours. This speeds your metabolism up, allowing for faster fat loss, ensures you stay alert and will see your energy levels soar. Eat until you are full and then stop -enjoy the process, and don’t stuff your face absentmindedly.

Make sure your eight essential amino acids are available by including protein with each of your meals. You could even try a protein shake if you wished to, and take supplements to ensure you are getting what you need.

Focus on Feeling Good

You are an individual with specific likes and dislikes, but also particular nutritional requirements. A counsellor can help you implement better habits and ensure that your new choices do not disrupt your working or home life overmuch.

It is always a good idea to get a check up before you start exercising, especially in the case of cardiovascular activities like walking, swimming, hiking, or bicycling, all of which will tone you up, lift your mood, and assist you in getting fit and happy once more. Don’t overburden yourself with exercises that you hate and don’t have time for: have a good think about what you enjoy doing and then find a way to work that in a couple of times a week. Commitment is key, as there will always be a good reason for not doing something you don’t want to do, and this is why many people make use of a workout buddy. You are more likely to show up on time and do what you need to do if your not doing so will put someone else out.