5 good habits to adopt in the new year 2019
One more day before the new year dawns. As many are listing down resolutions they try so hard to stick to in the first few months and quickly forget about when the season changes, what are the good habits which we should be sticking to our resolution list for this new year? I have 5 good habits for you to consider - things which are practical, relevant and can make improve your mood, life and relationships.
1. Sleep well
We are the monster of ourselves when it comes to sleeping habits. In a busy, hectic life juggling with work, family and social lives, we tend to compromise sleep because it is the easiest to drain out from. Never underestimate the power of sleep. Sleep does not only rejuvenate and regenerate our cells, it is also an important key to good metabolism and general well-being. Plenty of research has proven that lack of sleep contributes to weight gain, mental fatigue and reduced life span. If there is one thing you should do to yourself, it is to ensure your body gets quality and adequate sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation leads to irritability, poor daily performance and general reduced health quality.
2. Cook more food from scratch
This has been an old resolution for me but it has been a life-changing one, in many ways. Firstly, buying more raw food from the grocery store would help decrease your grocery shopping costs. Raw food, especially local produce, are usually cheaper than processed foods you find on the frozen section. Besides that, cooking food from scratch is healthier because you control what you put into the pot. Instead of reheating a meal of chicken tikka masala you bought from Tesco which most probably contain plenty of sugar and sodium, your own home-cooked meal can be nutritious and wholesome. This is the first step I strongly recommend anyone who is looking into weight loss in a healthy manner.
3. Clean thy house
Nothing beats a clean, clutter-free home. I have seen many well-groomed people around who present themselves prim and proper, yet when I visit their homes, I get the shock of my life at how poorly maintained their homes are. You do not need to have a home which looks like it comes out from an interior design magazine. Nor do you need to live lavishly with expensive furniture. A weekly cleaning routine goes a long way. It makes you feel accomplished, having hoovered the floor; or clean the bathroom. Again, this is a good habit to adopt to add to add to your well-being.
4. Do not procrastinate
Many of us are victims to our own procrastination. We give ourselves plenty of excuses. We delay our decisions; whether is it work, family or relationship matters. Sometimes, it becomes more of a way of coping with avoidance. Other times, it is mere laziness and lack of discipline or dedication. Procrastination is the root to failure. For this new year, try to adopt a healthy habit of not procrastinating by getting into it. Going slow is better than never starting. Once you get yourself involved, most of the time, the momentum can propel you through without you even realizing.
5. Love more
It sounds cliche but loving more does not only apply to relationships for couples. It also encompasses showing gestures of love and kindness towards your co-workers, neighbors, friends and strangers. Small acts of love such as stopping to help a granny with her heavy load of grocery at the shopping mall, or giving up your seat to a mother with a crying baby can go a long way. Small acts of love and compassion accumulate and become an important foundation to a loving society.
Finally, these are not difficult habits to follow or adopt. There are practical things that we should be doing anyway. If there is nothing you feel that you can do, you should definitely try adopting these five habits and see the changes in your life for 2019.
1. Sleep well
We are the monster of ourselves when it comes to sleeping habits. In a busy, hectic life juggling with work, family and social lives, we tend to compromise sleep because it is the easiest to drain out from. Never underestimate the power of sleep. Sleep does not only rejuvenate and regenerate our cells, it is also an important key to good metabolism and general well-being. Plenty of research has proven that lack of sleep contributes to weight gain, mental fatigue and reduced life span. If there is one thing you should do to yourself, it is to ensure your body gets quality and adequate sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation leads to irritability, poor daily performance and general reduced health quality.
2. Cook more food from scratch
This has been an old resolution for me but it has been a life-changing one, in many ways. Firstly, buying more raw food from the grocery store would help decrease your grocery shopping costs. Raw food, especially local produce, are usually cheaper than processed foods you find on the frozen section. Besides that, cooking food from scratch is healthier because you control what you put into the pot. Instead of reheating a meal of chicken tikka masala you bought from Tesco which most probably contain plenty of sugar and sodium, your own home-cooked meal can be nutritious and wholesome. This is the first step I strongly recommend anyone who is looking into weight loss in a healthy manner.
3. Clean thy house
Nothing beats a clean, clutter-free home. I have seen many well-groomed people around who present themselves prim and proper, yet when I visit their homes, I get the shock of my life at how poorly maintained their homes are. You do not need to have a home which looks like it comes out from an interior design magazine. Nor do you need to live lavishly with expensive furniture. A weekly cleaning routine goes a long way. It makes you feel accomplished, having hoovered the floor; or clean the bathroom. Again, this is a good habit to adopt to add to add to your well-being.
4. Do not procrastinate
Many of us are victims to our own procrastination. We give ourselves plenty of excuses. We delay our decisions; whether is it work, family or relationship matters. Sometimes, it becomes more of a way of coping with avoidance. Other times, it is mere laziness and lack of discipline or dedication. Procrastination is the root to failure. For this new year, try to adopt a healthy habit of not procrastinating by getting into it. Going slow is better than never starting. Once you get yourself involved, most of the time, the momentum can propel you through without you even realizing.
5. Love more
It sounds cliche but loving more does not only apply to relationships for couples. It also encompasses showing gestures of love and kindness towards your co-workers, neighbors, friends and strangers. Small acts of love such as stopping to help a granny with her heavy load of grocery at the shopping mall, or giving up your seat to a mother with a crying baby can go a long way. Small acts of love and compassion accumulate and become an important foundation to a loving society.
Finally, these are not difficult habits to follow or adopt. There are practical things that we should be doing anyway. If there is nothing you feel that you can do, you should definitely try adopting these five habits and see the changes in your life for 2019.
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