Healthy Habits: How To Be Healthier And Happier For 2021

We all had it rough in 2020. So much so nobody needs a recap on why that year was tough. But what about this one? A lot of us had big plans to enter 2021 with a more positive outlook. To take the bull by the horns and do their best to ride out whatever the next few months might bring. Thing is, we’re still living in uncertain times and the mere flip of a calendar’s page isn’t going to change that. Still, there are things you can do to stay healthy and improve happiness and here are just ten of them.

Take a healthy break from the news

Not all of the news is doom and gloom right now. But if you’re in a bad space, you might subconsciously look for the negative to reinforce your belief that everything’s going to hell in a handbasket. To help lighten up your mental load, consider not reading it. This might mean deleting apps like Twitter and Facebook from your phone and making a concerted effort to stop opening news sites. Trust that if something is incredibly important, it will reach you. 

Consider a social media hiatus

When you’re using social media to look at puppies and kittens life is great. But if you’re in a bad place and using it to stalk your ex or beat yourself up about how much better some random Instagram influencer seems to have it, it’s only going to hurt. Perhaps take a moment to consider whether a long scroll makes you feel better or worse. If it’s the latter, maybe it’s time to read a book instead. Also, feelings aside, think about the productivity aspect. Do you really want to spend an hour a day watching someone’s skincare routine when you could’ve been learning a new skill?

Be more mindful of nutrition

Make 2021 the year you clean up your diet and choose to be healthy. Research has shown that what we eat can affect every aspect of our well-being including our mental health. In fact, a recent study showed that those suffering from depression experienced an improvement in symptoms after receiving nutritional counselling to help them create a healthier diet. The diet focused on fresh whole foods with a high nutritional content and limited processed and fried foods as well as sugar. If, for whatever reason, you’re not getting what you need from your food, taking a high-quality nutritional supplement and consider popping a nootropic like gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). A neurotransmitter-like compound made by your brain, it’s been proven to help improve your mood and decrease anxiety.   

Pamper yourself

You can be kind to everyone else, but who’s taking care of you? Perhaps it’s time to take responsibility for how you’re being treated and show yourself a little self-love? Being your own loving bestie can be as simple as allowing yourself to cancel an appointment that would be draining and then not beat yourself up about it. The world can really batter you and potential enemies about, so you do really have to be one of them? Another more tangible way to give yourself a little TLC is to book a pampering spa treatment like a Hydra Touch facial. It’s suitable for every skin type and will leave you feeling relaxed and looking radiant. 

Get in great shape 

It’s a fact. Exercise changes the chemicals in your brain in a way that reduces stress and raises the levels of your happy hormones. If this is the year you want to get into great shape, go for it. Naturally, you’ll be happier as your body becomes leaner and fitter, but the effect the process will have on your brain will be massively beneficial too. Also, if you’re wanting to lose weight, 2021 can be the year you shed those stubborn kilograms and keep it off if you commit to a doctor-developed low GI eating plan. And yes, it conforms to the specs of the happiness-boosting diet we mentioned earlier so it really is win-win.

In short, with just a few tweaks and a little commitment, nothing is stopping you can make this year your happiest yet!