5 HEALTH HABITS TO ADD TO YOUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

5 HEALTH HABITS TO ADD TO YOUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

Usman Ademola Lagos State University College of Medicine

It’s the beginning of the new year with her euphoria, comes the “new year resolutions”. As cliché as that sounds, it is not an entirely bad idea to add a few resolutions to the ones you’ve mapped out already. The new year is a time, or rather, an opportunity to change for the better, trying to let go of old habits and imbibing new and better ones. The new year is basically a clean slate. A second chance

to be better. One thing I would say however is that your new year resolutions are not complete if some changes about your health are not put in place. That being said, there are key habits that must be added to your routine if your plan is to live a long and healthy life. Quite frankly, the list is inexhaustible but I would be taking us through five (5) of these habits.

DRINK WATER

It is no news that water is one of the most important parts of our diets but it is unfortunate that most people prefer soda to water.

Water helps the body to function properly, helps to eliminate waste, prevents kidney problems, maintains skin turgor, and ensures an overall hydrated state while maintaining body homeostasis. It is recommended that we drink at least 1.5-2 liters of water each day. Always drink water during meals and in between meals. Do not wait to be thirsty before drinking water.

EAT HEALTHY

Proper meal planning ensures that individuals with busy schedules do not reach for junk foods offered by nearby outlets. Cooking at home is a healthier choice than eating out and it also saves money. Occasionally adding a bowl of fruits to the diet is also a healthy option.

Avoid taking excess oils, sugary foods, and spicy or smoked, or canned foods as they increase the risk for several diseases like obesity, diabetes mellitus, and even cancer.

GET ADEQUATE SLEEP

Contrary to the popular opinion that successful people don’t sleep, the importance of a good night’s rest to the proper functioning of the mind and body cannot be overemphasized.

It is important that each individual gets uninterrupted sleep each night. Research suggests that adults should try to get a minimum of six hours of sleep each night. Children however need seven to eight hours of sleep to ensure proper brain growth and development.

EXERCISES

While a person might not have much time to spare for exercising, making time to work out is never a bad idea and should be considered.

Dedicating as little as 20-30 minutes of exercise, three to four times per week can have a great impact on a person’s health. Exercise ensures a healthy heart and reduces the risk of hypertension.

There are several forms by which we can incorporate exercises into our daily activities. For example, taking a walk back home from work, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, doing some cleaning at home on weekends, walking with a friend or colleague at the start of your lunch hour, parking farther away in parking lots near markets so you have a longer walk, ride a bicycle to your destination if it is just a short distance away.

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

As humans, we are social beings that thrive on healthy interpersonal relationships. Many relationships these days are toxic and their effects transcend into almost every aspect of our lives. Having a healthy relationship with your colleagues at work, your

neighbours at home, in your community, your siblings, and your parents help to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Life on its own is hard enough already but we do not have to go through it alone. So, having quality and meaningful relationships with people around you will help to improve your overall health and productivity.