Happy New Year! The calendar has turned over to January and we are once again celebrating the onset of another year in which we can instill our hopes. Hopes of health, hopes of happiness. What’s on your list of resolutions for 2021? Maybe you want to lose weight, gain confidence, or make more trips to the spa (especially if you’ve been stuck at home this past year).
Creating and maintaining healthy habits are a common theme, and easy to maintain with a little determination and clear direction. Here are some suggestions to add to your list:
Get in touch with your body and mind
In the new year, make it a priority to check in with yourself regularly and ensure your physical and emotional health are thriving. The two are inextricably linked, as well, so if you pay attention to one, you must pay attention to the other, as well. Exercise, for instance, has been shown to help you live longer and has a positive impact on mental health.
Integrate an exercise routine into your daily activities. You don’t have to have an expensive gym membership or do backbreaking cardio all hours of the day to see some of the most important benefits from increasing your heart rate. Ten-minute workouts spaced throughout the day can even be as effective as spending an hour at the gym. Benefits include increased focus, less stress, and an improved mood.
Make specific changes in your diet
Another common resolution is to eat healthier, but what does that really mean? In order to make the most effective resolution and stick to it, create concrete, measurable goals. For instance, “eat healthier” can become “eat three servings of vegetables per day,” or “drink one less diet soda per day.”
Food doesn’t just nourish your body; it helps your mind, as well. Depression and negative mood has been linked to nutrition and what we eat. For instance, a diet full of high amounts of processed carbohydrates has been shown to result in an unbalanced mood, poor concentration, anxiety, and depression. Incorporate more fruits, vegetables, and whole wheat in your diet, and you’ll see an improvement in emotional health as well as physical.
Sticking with your new eating regimen could be difficult at first, but take it one day at a time. Instead of stopping at the fast-food restaurant on your way home from work, stop at your local health food store or farmer’s market. The options there will generally be better for you, and it may present you with options you hadn’t thought about previously. (And an added bonus: You’re supporting the local economy and environment!)
Take care of your skin
It’s 2021 — time to stop treating your skin poorly. Invest in some new products, and in turn invest time in yourself. For instance, a diet rich in collagen can improve skin firmness and smoothness, as well as strengthen teeth and nails. Add collagen to your diet by eating foods like beef, chicken, and broth — or, the most efficient way, by taking a collagen supplement. Most people will see results from their new supplement within the first 12 weeks, but it does vary from person to person.
Treat yourself
Healthy food, a better skincare routine, and daily exercise are all helpful habits to maintain as we move into the new year. A huge part of self-care, though, is giving yourself mental time and space to enjoy life and improve your outlook — and what better way to do that than to have a day at the spa. Steam rooms have been shown to help keep our skin clear, massages help us divest ourselves of stress, and facials do both.
Go forth in 2021
This year is just starting, but by incorporating these tips into your everyday routine, you will be in a better position to tackle the year head-on. For more quality content about the benefits of day spas and self-care, visit the Spa Industry Association blog!
