• About
    • Penny
    • Hank
    • Juju
  • Contact
  • How To Start A Blog
  • Make Money Blogging
    • How To Make $40K Your First Year Blogging
    • Making Sense Of Affiliate Marketing
    • How To Monetize A Food Blog
    • Food Blogger Pro
  • Blogging Tips
    • Blogging Resources
    • Recommended Blogging Tools
    • Blogging Tips
      • More Quick Blogging Tips
    • How To Increase Blog Traffic
      • SEO For Health Blogging
      • External SEO Tips
      • On Site SEO Tips
    • Blogging Action Plan
      • Deciding Why You Blog
      • Types of Health Blogs
      • Important WordPress Settings
      • Blog Security
      • WordPress Plugins
      • WordPress Themes
  • Shop
    • Planner Favorites
    • Fitness Favorites
    • Kitchen Tools
    • Blogging Books

A Merry Life

Healthy Living & Budgeting Blog | Health, Wealth & Everything Else

  • Budgeting
  • Finances
  • Fitness
  • Food
  • Family Life
  • YouTube

Healthy Ways To Start The Year Off Right

January 18, 2012 by Mary

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for details.

I felt like skipping my workout today because I was busy.

A meeting in town (30 minute train ride both ways), work, a coffee date with a friend = busy day for me. An hour long workout seemed pretty low on the priority list, to the point that I wanted to skip it.

But I didn’t. I worked it into my schedule. Even though it’s going to be a long day for me I’m glad I did it.

Source: activeinspiration.tumblr.com via Lauren on Pinterest

 

Now I want to leave you with a post I wrote a while back but didn’t publish. Hopefully those of you who made new year’s resolutions are still going strong!

Healthy Ways To Start The Year Off Right

The new year represents a fresh start.  If you over indulged during the holidays don’t worry about it. Binges and over eating happen but the best thing to do is move on as soon as you can.  Let’s make the most of this new beginning, shall we? Here’s 12 ways to start the new year off right with healthier habits.

  • Set some goals.  Ask yourself: What do you want to accomplish this year? Create some measureable goals that you can realistically achieve during the year (use numbers like lose 30 pounds rather than just lose weight).
  • Make a plan. Plan out what it will take to accomplish those goals. Break the goals down into smaller actions and schedule them into your normal life.
  • Find a friend or mentor. Having help will help you succeed. Reach out to someone in your life or even online who can help you stick with your healthy lifestyle goals.
  • Take a walk. It’s the easiest and possibly the healthiest form of exercise. It costs nothing and can be enjoyable. Try walking without a destination in mind.
  • Try a new fitness activity. You won’t know whether you hate or love something until you actually try it. Try one or two new things at the start of the year and keep trying things until you find something you love doing.
  • Drink more water. Time for eggnog and celebratory drinks is over. Grab the water and skip sodas, fruit drinks, and other calorie laden beverages.
  • Start tracking your food. You don’t have to calorie count (though it is good!) but being aware of the food you are consuming is important. Start tracking in whatever method works for you, online calorie counter, weight watchers, pen & paper – any way you want!
  • Stretch. Stretching tends to be the one physical activity a lot of us miss but it’s one of the best! Start the year right by stretching out your muscles after warming up for five minutes.
  • Eat more vegetables and fruit. This is a personal goal of mine all the time because it seems I never get enough. But I always keep aiming for 5-9 servings of fruits and veggies a day. Try this yourself in the new year and you will appreciate all the energy and nutrients your body gets from the extra produce!
  • Laugh. Work your ab muscles and get yourself in a better mood. Go to a comedy club or watch your favorite funny show.
  • Clean your house. Clearing physical clutter can help clear mental clutter and leave space for new healthier habits.

Let me make it easier on you. Just pick one healthy habit to start. Do this for two weeks until it sticks. Then pick a new habit. Stick with it until it sticks. Then another. You’ll slip up and mess up and it takes time, but change is possible. Sometimes you’ll have more trouble with one thing than others (for me I have more trouble with food than fitness), but any change in the right direction is positive. It’s not an all or nothing kind of deal… even a little success is worth it.

Let’s do this!

Filed Under: Awesome Tips


« Lunges, Biking, & Paula Deen
When Things Go According To Plan… And When They Don’t »

Comments

  1. Tara says

    January 18, 2012 at 8:25 pm

    Good for you getting the workout in!

  2. Miz says

    January 19, 2012 at 5:10 am

    and three cheers for laughing.
    after that Im usually ready to workout as Ive shed my crabbinessment….

  3. The Mrs @ Success Along the Weigh says

    January 19, 2012 at 7:10 am

    Very proud of you for getting the workout in. If our health suffers, all the other things that took priority at the time don’t mean a whole lot.

  4. Deb says

    January 19, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    Let’s see… I’ve set goals for the year. I’ve got several buddies to help me through. I drink tons of water, and I always track all my food. Working on eating more veggies than fruit. Cleaning house… I’ve been a house cleaning maniac the last few weeks! lol Good list. I agree with all of it.

    Also, I don’t mean to be rude/totally off topic, but want to ask a favor. I read your blog regularly, and the worst you can do is say no or delete my comment.

    My good friend was the victim of a violent crime and has no health insurance. Could you please spread the word for the cause? We’re trying to raise money to put a dent in his medical bills. You can see more about what happened and photos here on my blog: http://debslosingit.com/help-fix-jeremys-face/.

    If you can’t repost the information, and you use Stumble Upon, could you at least thumbs up the post and share it with your friends? Thank you so much! I would really appreciate it!

  5. Roz@weightingfor50 says

    January 19, 2012 at 1:12 pm

    Yay you for getting that workout in!!!! YAY!!! I love the laughter tip. That is often overlooked, but so important. Have a laugh filled Thursday!

  6. Jaabecca Jones says

    January 19, 2012 at 4:13 pm

    You are so right on! Especially the get a mentor advice. Often overlooked buy very essential. Thanks for the info. Be Great!

  7. nikkianne says

    January 19, 2012 at 8:35 pm

    Your image is so true! I’ve been tired the past two days and contemplated not going to the gym, but I did and it is SO WORTH IT! Even if I don’t lose any weight this week I’ll be glad that I went to the gym

  8. Jennifer says

    January 21, 2012 at 9:15 am

    From your list, if you tell me to take one of highest priority, I will take walking. Walking is a very useful, effective and easy exercise for all ages of people. Too many people are now spending their money and futile effort to gain better fitness in gym, using tools, supplements but I wonder why they do not try the natural ways first? You walk,run in the fresh air very early in the morning and it will make your whole day beautiful. Then after a few days start to run. Keep in mind , you should drive all anxieties off from your mind first. Don not take a break. Running regularly will work fast to reduce your weight. It will also make you drink some more amount of water and will ensure some fresh oxygen to enter into your body.

mary Welcome to my journey to improve my health, wealth, and everything in-between!
Join me as I learn and share helpful tips and tricks I find along the way.
  • Bloglovin
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • YouTube
Ebates Coupons and Cash Back

Popular Posts

weight loss gift ideas healthy chocolate protein pancake recipe how to start a blog how to make money blogging

Search

Recent Posts

  • Whole30 Reflections 1 Year Later + Recipes I’m Loving
  • 10 Reasons To Get Out Of Debt
  • July 2019 Online Income Report
  • Should You Go on Vacation While Paying Off Debt?
  • How Much YouTube Paid Me For 2 Million Views

Top Posts & Pages

  • Apartment Essentials For Single Ladies
  • DIY White Painted Dresser
  • Diet Tips For People With Kidney Stones
  • What I Learned From Playing Volleyball
  • Kale & Mozzarella Chicken Burgers (Burgers by AmyLu) Review
  • Baby Shower Brunch Food & Drink Ideas
  • Advocare 24 Day Challenge Healthy Recipe Ideas
  • DIY Diaper Cart | Nursery Organization
  • How to Deodorize Smelly Shoes
  • Weight Loss Motivation Quotes

Categories

Disclosure!

Note: Affiliate links may pop up on the site when I'm recommending something. They are free for you to use, but they help support me by giving me a small commission of any sales. It's like leaving a tip for good service while buying something you'd purchase anyway. Thank you for supporting A Merry Life!

Copyright © 2022 · A Merry Life - Healthy Living & Weight Loss Blog. Tasteful Theme by Restored 316 Designs

A Merry Life (amerrylife.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Copyright © 2022 · Tasteful Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in