The moment we’ve been longing for has finally come – 2020 has ended. Now we start 2021 with a fresh perspective of how important our mental, physical and emotional wellbeing are. This year’s resolutions should be focused on ways we can improve our wellness without the typical deprivation that resolutions tend to encourage. Here are 5, easy to implement New Year’s Resolutions that will make positive changes in all areas of your life.
1. Reduce Glyphosate Consumption
Glyphosate, aka Roundup, is lurking on many of our most commonly consumed foods. Conventionally grown crops such as wheat, corn and soybean are typically sprayed with glyphosate for the purpose of killing weeds, however, its presence in our food supply has unknown consequences on our health. Glyphosate is considered a “probable carcinogen” by the WHO and taking steps to remove it from our diet is easy to do if you’re made aware of its presence. Make an effort this year to buy Certified Organic and Non-GMO foods as often as possible to intentionally reduce your exposure to this pervasive weed killer.
2. Turn Wi-Fi Off At Night
The health implications of EMF exposure are a still being investigated but current studies suggest that constant exposure may reduce sleep quality and increase feelings of anxiety and depression. Since we aren’t going to be giving up our phones and internet anytime soon, taking measures to reduce our exposure in our homes seems like a doable project. The easiest way to do this is to turn off the Wi-Fi in the house while you’re sleeping, especially since our phones often end up on our bedside tables.
3. Read More Books
Set a goal to read a certain number of books every month of 2021. Even if it’s just one or two a month, that will be time you dedicate to stimulating your brain that would’ve otherwise been spent watching TV or perusing your cell phone.
4. Commit To Daily Meditation
Meditation doesn’t have to be an hour of sitting in lotus position staring at a candle flame. Even one minute a day can be an achievable way to create a habit that can provide you with less anxiety, reduced stress levels, improved focus and lowered blood pressure. I highly recommend using guided meditation, like the Calm or Headspace apps to help you stick with the plan.
5. Practice Gratitude
This is the most important piece of advice to take with us from 2020 to 2021. There is so much to be grateful for regardless of which cards you’ve been dealt. Make a list every Sunday of the experiences and people you are most appreciative of for that week. You may surprise yourself how much easier Monday morning will be when you go to bed on Sunday thinking of all you have to be grateful for.
2021 feels like the descent of our Everest climb. Parts of us are broken and battered but it is our resilience that will define us for this next leg of the journey. Let’s make this year the year that we prioritize the small daily decisions that will have the largest impact on our mental and physical health and wellness.