Lifestyle change: Six things you should start doing this year

As we grow older, we are bombarded with more responsibilities and expectations that can be a tad overwhelming. As a child, and in an ideal setup, you have both parents to hold your hand and keep your problems at bay but as an adult you are even luckier if you have at least one person who cares about your life and feelings.

As a result of these inevitable changes, it is up to us to take care of ourselves both physically and mentally. Personal care starts with what you eat all the way to people you allow around you. The question is, does it make you happy? If you don’t know where to start, here are some things you should adopt into your lifestyle this year:

Is your relationship stressing you? Are your friends pressuring you into doing thing you are uncomfortable with? Or are you simply feeling overwhelmed by everything around you? What are you doing about it? Life may seem hard, but it gets even harder when you can’t find little joys in the midst of the chaos. Find things that make you happy and make them part of your life.

Your body is not getting any younger and you cannot afford to eat all the unhealthy foods around you. Your body needs all the healthy food it can get in order to keep your skin clear and your body healthy. Add more vegetables and fruits to your diet and always remember to stay hydrated. Also ensure to have all three meals every day.

You probably spend most of your nights catching up on work you couldn’t finish during the day. While it may seem like an easy way out, it also interferes with your body’s internal clock. Lack of sleep will mean you spend a good chunk of your day, every day, tired and moody not to mention all the coffee you will be having to stay alert. Your body needs at least 7 hours of sleep every day to rejuvenate so turn off your gadgets and get some sleep.

If you already have a work out routine, good for you, if you haven’t started what are you waiting for? Working out keeps your muscles flexible and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Also exercising provides a channel for expelling all the pressure and stress you accumulate all day from work, family and relationships. You can start by having an evening walk, jog or skipping rope as you get into more intense routines.

You should learn to say no sometimes. It’s not every day that you should be the sacrificial lamb at work or your friends’ punching bag in order to fit in. Yes, friendships and partnerships may lean on sacrifice but it doesn’t always have to be you. A relationship is a two way street, it means you give and take. If you are always giving, it’s time you started taking too.

Have you started saving for your future? Do you have medical insurance? If no, then it is high time you started thinking of ways you can secure your future. It’s never too early to start saving for your future, time flies so fast and before you know it, you could be in need of a job change or a medical cover. First have a plan, write up a budget and start saving as much as you can whenever you can.