Discover the 5 non-negotiable healthy daily habits to take into the new year and 5 unhealthy habits to completely abandon.

New Year’s resolutions/goals often start strong but tend to fade as the year progresses. However, it’s never too late to embrace a healthier lifestyle. Don’t wait for the new year to begin; start today and give yourself a head start on building those healthy habits.

If you haven’t already started to try and improve your lifestyle but have set it as your new year goals then today is the day to start! However, if you haven’t set your New Year goals and need some help then check out this blog post HERE where have I shared 7 effective goal-setting strategies to help you achieve all your New Year goals.

We will explore five healthy daily habits to enhance your overall well-being, emphasizing the significance of mental health in achieving a healthy lifestyle. It is so important to know that if you want to achieve a healthy lifestyle then focusing on your mental wellbeing is essential.

Additionally, I will also go through five common unhealthy habits to leave behind in the new year. Remember, building healthy habits and letting go of unhealthy ones is a gradual process. You don’t need to tackle all 10 at once. Start with one habit from each category or even just one from a single category and steadily progress.

Atomic Habits by James Clear is one of the best books that can help you build healthy daily habits, abandon bad habits, and stick to your healthy habits. This book has completely changed my life and I can’t recommend it enough. So if you struggle to stay consistent with healthy habits then this is the book for you.

This post is all about 5 healthy daily habits you need to take into the new year and 5 unhealthy habits to abandon.

Healthy Daily Habits

5 Healthy Habits

1. Morning Routine (morning routine ideas)

Starting your day the right way can set the tone for the entire day ahead. And the good news is, a morning routine doesn’t have to be lengthy; even just 10-20 minutes can make a difference. As a mum, I understand that having a long morning routine can be tough.

The best morning routine for success is one that is manageable and contains tasks that make you feel your best. For instance, mine would look like this:

make the bed
10-minute morning movement (stretch or workout)
hydration and ginger shot for a boost in immunity
healthy breakfast
gratitude and affrimations

This whole routine takes me about 20-30 minutes but has significantly improved my mental well-being by reducing stress and anxiety.

A morning routine is such an important healthy daily habit that you want to carry on into the new year or start now. If you are in need of some morning routine ideas then click HERE where I have not only shared a morning routine checklist but also how to create the perfect morning routine that works for you.

2. Daily Movement

Do you ever find yourself neglecting exercise during the colder months, only to start in spring for that ‘summer body’? It’s a common pattern. I, too, began prioritizing daily movement when the weather warmed up. But the last thing you want to do is undo all the progress you’ve made by quitting now, simply because it’s cold outside. And when I mention progress, I’m not just talking about physical changes; I’m also referring to the healthy habit you’ve cultivated by moving your body daily.

Daily movement is one of the best fitness habits you want to take with you into the New year. Here are some of the benefits of daily movement:

Improved Physical Health:

Weight Management: Regular movement helps control body weight by burning calories and building lean muscle.
Cardiovascular Health: It lowers the risk of heart disease by improving cardiovascular fitness, reducing blood pressure, and increasing good cholesterol levels.
Stronger Bones and Muscles: St exercises promote bone density and muscle strength, which is so important especially as we age (we start to lose muscle from the age of 30!!!).

Mental Well-Being:

Stress Reduction: Exercise triggers the release of endorphins, which can reduce stress and improve mood. Stress is one of the most common causes of many health issues (physical and mental).
Better Sleep: Regular movement can help with sleep quality and alleviate insomnia. This can also help with reducing stress which is one of the most common mental health issues.

If you struggle with staying consistent with this healthy daily habit and want to build self-discipline then check out this blog post HERE. This blog post covers 10 strategies that have helped me stay consistent with daily movement.

3. Journaling

Have you considered incorporating journaling into your routine? If not, it’s time to start! And if you’re already doing it, then it’s a healthy daily habit you’ll want to stick with. Personally, starting a gratitude journal has made a significant impact on my mental well-being.

Life often throws daily stressors our way, and some days can be exceptionally challenging. I’m sure we’ve all experienced moments when it feels like nothing good is happening, or we question whether we deserve happiness. Many times, these feelings stem from not actively cultivating gratitude. Beginning and ending each day with gratitude serves as a constant reminder that, no matter how tough life gets, there are numerous things to be thankful for.

Practicing gratitude can shift your mindset toward positivity, reduce stress and anxiety levels, and ultimately lead to a happier life. If you’ve ever wondered how to feel good every day, starting this daily habit now and carrying it into the new year is the answer.

Below is the gratitude journal I own and recommend for all beginners!

Shop Here

4. Clean And Organise Your Space

Simple acts like making your bed in the morning, tidying up your workspace, and keeping your home clean are healthy habits. Do you feel a sense of accomplishment or a boost of energy or even have a clear mind after you clean and organize your space? I sure do!

This daily habit isn’t just about a neat and tidy environment; it’s also about boosting your mental well-being. As I mentioned earlier, a healthy lifestyle without a healthy mindset is incomplete.

Take making your bed in the morning, for example—it’s a simple way to kickstart your day and set a positive tone. There’s a saying by Admiral William McRaven that goes, ‘If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and encourage you to tackle more tasks.’ So, these little habits can be the stepping stones to a more productive and fulfilling day.

5. Daily Self Care

Daily self-care is a crucial practice that should never be abandoned. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or a parent, prioritizing yourself each day is essential, especially because we tend to prioritize everything else but ourselves on a daily basis. One effective way to incorporate daily self-care is by having both a morning and a night routine in your daily life. This way, you begin and end each day by taking care of yourself.

Self-care includes a wide range of activities, from skincare and exercise to maintaining a healthy diet. It’s not just about self-maintenance but also about doing things that bring you joy, whether that’s spending time with loved ones or indulging in your favorite snack.

5 Unhealthy Habits To Abandon

1. Restricting Yourself

If you’re just starting your journey toward better health, you might unknowingly be placing too many restrictions on yourself. You might be telling yourself that you can’t have carbs or fats, or that junk food is off-limits. However, this approach doesn’t align with what a healthy lifestyle is truly about. Achieving consistency and building healthy daily habits revolves around finding balance.

Carbohydrates and fats are essential components of your macros, which play a vital role in reaching your health goals. Restricting these essential macros is not the right way to go. Moreover, depriving yourself of occasional indulgences in less healthy snacks or meals you enjoy is also counterproductive.

Overly strict restrictions often lead to what is known as ‘yo-yo dieting,’ where progress is followed by regression. Embracing the 80/20 rule has personally transformed my relationship with food and allowed me to enjoy healthier eating more than I ever have before. This rule involves dedicating 80% of your choices to healthy food options and daily habits, while the remaining 20% allows for occasional enjoyment of less healthy foods and life’s pleasures. This approach reframes a healthy lifestyle as a rewarding choice rather than a punishment, making it the most enjoyable way to live.

2. Neglecting Your Mental Health

When I started on my journey, I initially believed that simply moving my body and eating well would be enough. However, this approach resulted in inconsistency and even further weight gain. Stress is a known contributor to weight gain, and if you disregard your mental health, your efforts to establish healthy habits become pointless.

The starting point should always be your mental health. You don’t have to be in the midst of a mental health crisis to prioritize your mental well-being. Looking after your mental health can include all the 5 healthy habits I listed above. Or if you want to learn about more ways you can look after your mind then click HERE.

3. Not Drinking Enough Water

One thing I have learned this year is that drinking enough water every day is key for overall well-being. I Know first-hand that drinking enough water every day can be a challenge and I have struggled with this for a very long time. Whether you’re aiming to lose weight, enhance your skin, hair, and nails, or boost your immunity and gut health, water is the solution to many of your concerns.

Surprisingly, one thing that’s significantly helped me stay on track with my daily water intake this past year is investing in a cute water bottle. It may sound weird, but having an appealing water bottle can genuinely motivate you to drink more. I’ve shared my insights on the importance of hydration and seven effective strategies that have helped me to meet my daily water intake goal in a blog post. If you’re interested, you can check it out HERE.

SHOP HERE

4. Not Getting Enough Sleep

This is a tough one for many of us to completely abandon and start getting a full 8 hours of sleep every night. I know for a fact if you are a parent, this one is very hard. Whether your little one sleeps through the night or not, we tend to find ourselves enjoying our evenings until very late at night because it is the only time we truly get to ourselves. So I know firsthand how hard this unhealthy habit is to abandon.

But making it a habit to go to bed early can help you get 7-8 hours of sleep. Below are some of the health issues that come with the lack of sleep that should help you understand why it is an unhealthy habit that you need to absolutely abandon.

Mood Disturbances: Lack of sleep can contribute to mood disorders such as irritability, mood swings, increased stress, anxiety, and even depression. Getting enough sleep helps improve your mental health significantly.
Weakened Immune System: A consistent lack of sleep can weaken your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections and illnesses.
Weight Gain: Not getting enough sleep can disrupt hormones that regulate appetite. This can lead to increased cravings for unhealthy foods and weight gain.

5. Too Much Junk Food In A Week

While I mentioned that excessive restriction isn’t the way to go, it’s essential to be mindful of how often you indulge in takeout. Having it more than once a week can be harmful to your long-term health. There may be weeks when a busy schedule necessitates a few junk meals, but indulging just for the sake of enjoyment isn’t the way to build a healthier lifestyle.

One strategy that’s made a significant difference for me throughout the year is meal planning. It’s been a game-changer, helping us maintain healthy eating habits without feeling restricted. If you’re interested in learning more about how meal planning can help you make better food choices, you can read my blog post HERE.

Cultivating healthy daily habits and getting rid of old unhealthy ones is a gradual process, but the best time to begin is right now. Start your journey to a healthier, happier life today.

I hope you found this helpful and that these tips help you become the best version of yourself.

Make sure to follow my socials – Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Amazon Storefront, and LikeToKnowIt – for more healthy lifestyle content!

Lots of love, Mariam x

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This post was all about healthy daily habits to take into the new year.

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