Wellness: Start A Healthier Life After The Holidays

The Christmas holidays come and often seem to fly by. However, it is a time when we often have all kinds of celebrations and events in just a few short days. This season is also characterized by urgency, stress, plenty of meals and loss of regular routines. With the arrival of the new year and the end of the holidays, we can set the course for a healthier life after the holidays.

Making a New Year’s resolution to start a healthier life after the holidays is one of the best health investments we can make. Some habits and routines can help us improve various aspects of our health, both in the short and long term.

The benefits of a healthy lifestyle

Having healthy lifestyle habits can make a big difference in the state of health and well-being. Sticking to them means longer life expectancy. Not only that, but it can also allow us to have a better quality of life physically, psychologically and emotionally.

Scientific studies have shown that only the change towards one of these healthier habits gives us benefits. So, here are some habits to get a healthier life after the holidays.

Change your eating habits after the holidays

Eating is one of the first routines we can make big and important changes to. But it is not necessary to “go on a diet” after the holidays. You also do not need to lose the pounds you have put on by overdoing or cleansing your body.

To start living a healthier life with the new year, it is best to adopt healthy eating habits that you can maintain forever.

To achieve this, it is important to:

• Eat more plant-based foods. This means eating more vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes and whole grains.
• Reduce your intake of meat and sausages and increase your consumption of eggs, legumes and nuts. Also try another source of vegetable protein such as tempeh or tofu.
• Avoid added sugar and excess foods such as sweets, cakes, fast food.
• Eat foods that are in season and of nearby origin.
• Drink water. Juices, energy drinks and soft drinks do not hydrate us.
• Have a wide selection of healthy, plant-based foods.

Maintain an active lifestyle

Today we know that physical exercise is necessary to maintain good health. In addition to helping us maintain a healthy body weight, it also helps us improve cardiorespiratory functions, bone and muscle health. And it protects us from non-communicable diseases by reducing the risk of depression and cognitive decline.

We also know that there is no need to work out in a gym or to buy a gym bike. We can exercise and stay active in many ways, even from our own home:

• To run, go for a walk, dance, cycle or play a team sport.
• Doing strength exercises with dumbbells or with our own body weight.
• To go when possible. Go up and down the stairs and do not spend too much time sitting.

When it comes to nutrition and exercise, we always recommend consulting a specialist to guide you and give you advice on the options that best suit your life and your abilities.

Get enough sleep after the holidays

Sleeping 7 to 9 hours a day is what health experts recommend lately. Otherwise, it is not possible to guarantee the optimal rest or recovery that our body needs every day.

After a night without enough sleep, we may experience fatigue and lack of concentration. However, regular sleep deprivation can lead to anxiety and irritability problems, increased risk of obesity or cardiovascular problems, and also shortens life expectancy.

If we find it difficult to fall asleep, we can try to create a calm environment hours before bedtime, avoid using screens and eat an early and light dinner.

Mental and psychological well-being after the holidays

Although we have always thought about health in physical form, we know that mental and psychological well-being is important to ensure a good quality of life. It’s time to dump her and move on.

We can be sure that having contact with our close social environment also has a positive impact on our health. Unwanted loneliness can produce stress that affects us on a psychological and physiological level.

Some recent scientific studies have found that loneliness – both objective and self-perceived – is correlated with an increased risk of mortality. And it is also a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mental and neurodegenerative diseases.

Get rid of toxic habits after the holidays

To start a healthy life, we need to adopt some positive habits and leave those that are more harmful. Some substances such as tobacco, alcohol and other substances harm our health. It is important to avoid them as much and as soon as possible.

Although public policy is necessary to promote a healthier lifestyle, we are beginning to do our part by adopting these habits. And what better time to do that than after the holidays?