Easy, good-for-you habits to make 2021 your best year
Now that many of us have already lapsed on our New Year’s resolutions, maybe it’s time now to get real, and get some 2021 goals together in an attainable way.
So with that in mind, here are some easy beauty and health changes — let’s call them “habits” rather than resolutions — that you can actually stick to in the longterm.
Take a walk. Nope, you don’t need to go big or home when it comes to workouts. Just go for a brisk 20-minute walk once a day. Two longterm Harvard studies have found that just that alone may reduce your risk of heart disease by up to 30%. And experts say you don’t need to do intense CrossFit sessions or epic strength training to glean the benefits of exercise — and those benefits run from better heart health to better circulation, and mental health boosts, too. That’s especially true this winter, when we’re cooped up and longing for some fresh air, and a change of scenery to recharge our brains and reduce stress.
Cook less, eat leftovers more. Know one of the biggest contributors to climate change? Leftovers. About 11% of greenhouse gas emissions that come from the food system could be reduced if we all quit wasting food, according to the World Wildlife Foundation. You can do your part to save the planet simply by doing “less” — by cooking less, that is — and eating up all your leftovers instead. How easy is that?
Start every day with a list. Instead of making vague and sweeping proclamations like, “I’m going to get organized,” just start with this one easy-as-pie morning tradition. Write down five to 10 must-do things (big or small) to get done that day, and enjoy the thrill of crossing them off as the hours go by. Then enjoy the thrill of watching yourself get incrementally more organized as weeks of accomplishments build.
Do a mask every week. Sure you can spend loads of cash on beauty creams, exfoliants, facials and so on. But for the most bang for your buck, using the least amount of time, masks are your silver bullet. They’re one of the easiest ways to get healthy, supple skin, and they target a bevy of different skin needs, from moisturizing and pore refinement to acne aid and vitamin replenishment.
They’re easy to put on, and you can do work around the house or at your computer while it does its job on your skin for 15-20 minutes.
Lean in to napping. Sleep is so crucial to our health, it’s crazy. It heals your body, and helps your brain rest, process memories, and even find solutions to issues in waking life. And while we don’t always have time to grab a few Z’s, life during a pandemic is going to give us the best shot we could have of getting into the habit.
Yack on the phone. We all know it can be a lot of effort to keep relationships going, and sure, we’re all getting tired of Zoom calls. But it’s still just as important as ever. These days, lending support, listening to friends’ and family’s problems and complaints, and sharing your own doesn’t even require leaving the house. Connecting with loved ones keeps our mental health and happiness up, and it takes on a new importance right now, when we all crave human connection.