02 Feb Want to get happier & healthier in 2015? Here’s 15 ways how!
Even if you're already healthy and happy, you very probably would like to be healthier and happier.
You can never really have too much health and happiness so no matter where you're starting from, these 15 tips from the Huffington Post will undoubtedly be of use to you and your loved ones…
by Firas Kittaneh
With the new year now in full gear, many people are hard at work on fresh resolutions (or perhaps still looking for motivation to get started).
Getting healthier is always a top priority for many of us around the new year as we come off of the holiday binge and look forward to summer. "Healthy" can mean different things to different people, but generally, feeling good, looking good and taking care of yourself fits the bill.
From getting more exercise in or finding ways to deal with stress, concrete steps and a little encouragement always helps. The following 15 habits take a broad approach to getting healthier, and prove fairly simple to integrate into your routine. Get started and accomplish your goal of a healthier and happier 2015!
1) Remind Yourself What You Are Grateful For Every Day
Gratitude is a powerful tool for attitude adjustment. It can go a long way toward making you feel more positive and satisfied with life overall. People with more gratitude even sleep better at night, according to a University of Manchester study.
Every evening as you get ready for bed, take a minute to consciously think about everything that you have to be grateful for. This can be especially helpful if you normally find yourself dwelling on to-dos or negative thoughts.
2) Practice a Stress Relief Technique That Works
Stress is something everyone experiences, whether from work, family, money or other sources. Try a few different tactics to find a go-to technique for when you need to relax.
There are several recognized stress relief methods from visualization to deep breathing, to simply zoning out to calming tunes. Being prepared with an effective stress relief tool in your mental toolkit can be very useful when you need a breather.
3) Try to Learn Something New
Taking in challenges and teaching our brains new things is good for mental health, especially as we get older. If you've had a hobby or new language in mind, what better time than now?
Smartphone apps that teach you a new word daily or even brain-training games can be a great tool to give your mind a quick workout, or you could integrate a new hobby into your evenings a few nights per week. If you feel like you've been stuck in a couch potato rut, engaging your mind with something new is the perfect way to break out.
4) Dedicate Time to Helping Others
Doing good for others helps us feel better. It's something many of us know intuitively, and science also supports this philosophy as well.
You don't need to become Mother Teresa, but consider giving one afternoon a month to a local shelter or signing up for your office's volunteer events. VolunteerMatch.org is another way to find opportunities near you. A couple of hours each year is nothing in the grand scheme of things, but can make a world of difference to someone in need and for your own perspective.
5) Find a Fitness Program You Like
Dread the gym or hate routines? Many fitness experts will tell you that the key to getting fit is finding exercises that you like and find enjoyable. Thankfully, there are so many ways to exercise that you are bound to find ones that you like.
From dozens of YouTube personalities to DVDs to apps to live classes to simply walking around your neighborhood, try different types of fitness routines and find ones you like and can stick with. If you've yet to find your fitness match, make it a goal to try out at least one new program or method each week until you do…
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