5 ways to look after yourself in the new year

Helloooooo 2022!

If you’re anything like me, you’ll have people in your circle who approach the start of a new year in completely opposing ways.

There are some who don’t give it much notice at all, viewing it as just another day. There are those who experience feelings of anxiety that are commonly experienced when faced with a new ‘unknown’.

Then, there are those who rush into the new year with a sense of great rebirth, thrusting themselves full force towards total transformation under the guise of a ‘New Years Resolution’.

For me, there’s always something quite exciting about the start of a new year. It represents a fresh start, a reset. There are always those feelings of nervous anticipation, of course, but let’s focus on the good parts for now.

Five tips on how to look after yourself in 2022

1. Get Outside!

This is definitely not something that comes naturally to a lot of us during the Scottish winter. But getting outside and spending time surrounded by nature, even just for a short time every day, has such massive health benefits.

According to Mind, spending time outdoors can:

• Improve your mood & self-esteem

• Reduce feelings of stress

• Provide relaxation

• Improve your physical health & fitness.

The best part is, getting outdoors doesn’t even have to be a super time-consuming part of your day. Even aiming to get fresh air for 15-20 minutes per day has the potential to significantly benefit your health & wellbeing!

If you work in front of a screen all day, taking time out to go outside is a great chance to give yourself a break. Listen to a podcast or some music while you walk, or find a bench & sit with your favourite book or a snack. It’s also a good opportunity to include some social time in your day – why not arrange to meet someone for a walk, or call a loved one during your time outdoors?

2. Sleep!

Do you know just how important sleep is for our health?

It is generally stated that adults need around 6-9 hours of sleep per night, with that number differing depending on individual factors such as health, age, etc. However, studies have found that around a third of the UK adult population falls short of that sleep target.

Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep is a very interesting read for anyone who wants to learn about the immense impact of sleep for our health. In one chapter, he describes the benefits of sleep as though it were a new pharmaceutical wonder-drug:

Sounds pretty good, right? Although the business of life often means we barely have enough hours in the day as it is, it may seem counterproductive to set aside more of our precious time for sleep. But if the research on the subject is anything to go by, getting more sleep will make us healthier, happier & more productive when we are awake!

Why not try and make sleep more of a priority in 2022?

3. Pamper yourself!

This doesn’t have to be anything extreme, but simply setting aside a little bit of time each day to look after yourself can do wonders for our physical and mental wellbeing.

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4. Nail Down Your Routine

The start of the year is often a very busy time: getting back into work, school and other parts of regular life. Throw in any New Years Resolutions you want to achieve and you’ve got a pretty hectic schedule.

No matter what a typical day in your life looks like, establishing some sort of routine can help you feel in control during these periods. Setting out even a very rough outline of what your typical day is going to look like is great to help you feel grounded.

5. Spend Quality Time with Loved Ones

Perhaps the most important point of all!

With December just behind us, maybe you managed to spend a lot of time with family and friends recently. But this can often mean that the start of the year feels a bit less full. Scheduling in some plans with your loved ones can help motivate you through the last of the winter months.

Whether you choose to meet in person for a walk or a coffee, schedule in a phone call or simply set aside some time to send a text to someone you haven’t caught up with in a while, filling your time with social activities is great for your mental wellbeing.

How will you look after yourself in the new year?

Are there any other tips you have for the start of a New Year? Or got any fun New Years Resolutions to share? Make sure to leave a comment!

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