As the new year approaches, many conversations revolve around the adage “New year, new me” and the requirement to stick to resolutions. While the intention may be positive, this approach can create unnecessary fear, guilt, or doubt.
We turned to mental health experts for advice on how to create healthy habits and, more importantly, how to successfully implement them into your daily life. Luckily, they have plenty of easy-to-understand tips to share.
To achieve our goals and improve our lives, we must use our mindfulness to develop and implement new healthy habits. It's a subtle but effective approach that can be used whether we're trying to keep a New Year's resolution, spice up our love life, stop drinking too much coffee, or start a skin care regimen.
And the best. these tips do not require us to start life from scratch.
What are healthy habits?
Healthy habits are repeated and consistent actions designed to improve our well-being over time. “What we do regularly benefits us mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally, not only in the short term, but also in the long term,” explains Byron Young, M.D., psychiatrist, mental health advocate, and scientist. Member of the Homemade Research Committee.
In other words, healthy habits aren't just about getting a quick hit of dopamine, they're a long-term game that benefits your body, mind, and spirit. “It can be confusing because sometimes what we feel is good is bad for us, but what we feel is bad is actually good for us,” explains Anthony Townsend, clinical psychologist and co-founder of EQNMT. “But ultimately healthy habits are defined by their ability to move you closer to what you personally value, not by whether it feels good at the moment.”
It is especially important to remember this in the moment, now, now and even more. “We tend to think that everything should give us instant gratification, and we want a quick fix,” says Kira Barr, M.D., a psychodermatologist and physical health coach. “However, healthy habits are about eating healthy and developing practices or systems that create a sustainable lifestyle.”
Lean on what nourishes you
For this reason, we must first be clear about what food really means to us . Barr recommends thinking about activities that will help you feel like the best version of yourself. Feeling good after taking a bath and listening to a guided meditation? Do you call your mom on the way to work? Do you do yoga with your best friend? Ask yourself “what activities will give you consistent energy and support throughout the day, the week, and the month,” she suggests. “Self-care means providing yourself with the food, sleep, exercise, and experiences that truly allow you to live the life you want.”