‘New year, new me’ goes the saying. At the start of the year, it’s common to set large, vague goals such as becoming ‘fit’ or to only eat ‘healthily’, for example. But these goals aren’t necessarily realistic or measurable. To help you narrow down your goals and come closer to achieving them, we’ve come up with some small, healthy lifestyle changes that will help you take a step in the right direction.

Cook a new recipe each week

Find yourself reverting back to the same go-to meals? Instead of committing to completely overhauling your entire recipe book, try cooking one new recipe a week. You’ll discover new meals and you’ll gradually learn what works best for you. It’ll also allow you to slowly introduce healthier substitutes into your diet. Lifestyle – Hopewood’s recipe for wellbeing has plenty of recipes to get you started, ranging from main meals to healthy snacks. Grab your copy here.

Set a consistent bedtime

Sleeping is a necessity; it is essential to our overall wellbeing. It allows your mind and body to reset and recharge, maintaining your cognitive function, as well as lowering the risk of developing serious health issues. Setting a consistent bedtime will allow you to sleep better and ensure your body is able to recover from the day. 

Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning

We should all be drinking water regularly throughout the day to keep hydrated and fuel the body. However, you should also consider drinking it on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. This will help your body to cleanse your bowels, flush out any toxins and rehydrate from the six to eight hours that you go without water.

Listen to podcasts/audio books while you exercise

A lot of us already listen to music while we’re exercising, but have you ever tried a podcast or audio book? We recommend finding something you’ll enjoy and listening to it during your next workout. It will give you something to look forward to and may even prolong your workout as you won’t want to stop until the episode or chapter is finished.

Morning meditation

Morning meditation lasting anywhere from five to ten minutes can lead to benefits. Regularly meditating in the morning is shown to improve your mood, focus, productivity and calm your mind. Integrating this practice into your day is just another small step towards leading a healthier and happier life.