As the year comes to a close, most people are already starting to make those New Year resolutions. Dr. Adam Graves of Colorado Natural Medicine gives us a list of things to make 2016 your healthiest year ever!
1) Practice Gratitude
If you make one new year’s resolution this year, and only one, then make it this, learning and practicing gratitude. Practicing gratitude and self compassion can increase mood, lower anxiety, make you more optimistic and help you have overall less illness. In fact if doctors knew the researched health benefits of gratitude, then they would be prescribing it to you on every visit! One of the best way to do this is to start a gratitude journal. Its pretty straightforward. Each day either when you wake up or before bed, write down something(s) you are grateful for or something you did well that day. Doing this over time helps create an attitude of gratitude and will improve you health in multiple aspects!
2) Move More in Ways You Enjoy
Don’t join a gym only to go 2 weeks hardcore and then stop for the rest of the year. Don’t use exercise as a punishment for feeling like you out of shape or unattractive! Use it to enjoy life! Do something that’s fun! Make moving more part of your lifestyle. Make it something you will enjoy so that you do it long term. Go to yoga, hire a personal trainer, take a dancing class, find a workout partner, ski more, hike more, etc. Or want the best way to lose weight? Take daily walks! Why because not only do they get you moving, they also lower your stress hormone, cortisol, so you body burns fat and you feel more relax. Walking is one of the most underutilized tools we have, its free, and it’s right out your front door. By making movement part of your lifestyle and something you enjoy, you are more likely to do it long term!
3) Eat healthy 80% of the time!
We have all heard this one! Eat more fruits and veggies!! alright, alright, we all know this, then why don’t we do it! Well because let’s be honest,Veggies aren’t delicious to most of us! Why, well one reason may be because most of us don’t know how to prepare vegetables to make them tasty! This takes time! Educate yourself. There are tons of free recipes, blogs, etc that will help you. Learn how to make delicious salads! Learn how to hide veggies in meals for kids! You can do it, and your body will thank you. There are also a ton of fad diets out there, low carb, low fat, low flavor..paleo etc! The one I like is the one you can stick with long term and incorporated lots of fruits and vegetables. I am a big 80/20 fan! 80% of the time eat very healthy, lots of fruits and veggies, lean meats, i.e. chicken, fish, etc and small amounts of whole grains, The other 20% of the time, Eat what you want, when you want it, go out with friends, enjoy food, and have no guilt!
4) Go Natural
Use natural medicine! of course this one is in there!! It is what I do, and it is what I believe in! Whether it’s eating more fruits and veggies, moving more, hiking in nature, acupuncture, herb/nutrients, essential oils, etc. Natural medicine can not only help restore your health it can optimize it also. From treating pain to help balance mood and hormones. Learning to use things that work with your body can help increase your health and vitality and help you live a healthier, fuller life.
Don’t forget to check out Colorado Natural Medicine at www.coloradonaturalmed.com. Thank you Dr. Adam Graves for the great tips for the new year!
