As the new year quickly approaches are you beginning to feel a little overwhelmed by all of the things that “should” be on your resolution list? Are you considering adding “get healthy,” “exercise more,” or “lose weight” to your long list of 2024 goals? If so, you’re not alone. Health based resolutions are some of the most common, and if you are like most us, those lofty dreams of six-pack abs and buns of steel quickly fade away a week or two into January, leaving you feeling discouraged and disappointed in yourself. And why do our good intentions evaporate so quickly when we felt so motivated while making the resolutions? For many of us, it’s because the New Year’s resolutions we make are too big, too vague, or are immeasurable. Then, when we don’t see instant results, those dark feelings of inadequacy start to creep in, and we begin to mentally beat ourselves up. So how about this year, we make a New Year’s resolution to be kinder to ourselves? Rather than setting ourselves up to fail with goals that can’t be measured, instead we chose a few resolutions that are simple, easy and if we stick with them, will automatically result in the improved health we all desire.

So today, I am going to share with you 13 easy ways to be healthier in 2024. I am planning to incorporate many of these simple ideas in my day-to-day life in 2024, and I’m looking forward to feeling better as a direct result of my new and improved habits. So let’s get started…

1. Eat Mindfully – Rather than eating dinner while binge watching your new favorite show on Netflix or snacking while working away on your laptop, focus on your food. Studies show that eating while distracted actually increases the amount of calories you consume, ultimately resulting in weight gain.
2. Keep Healthy Food In Front – When stashing your food away in the pantry and fridge, place all of the healthy items in front at eye level, and place all of those special treats in the back or in hard to reach places. If the first thing you see when you open the fridge is a delicious piece of cheesecake, let’s be honest, how many of us would really push it aside to dig out the baby carrots? Make it easier on yourself, and hide those sweet treats in the bottom drawer way in the back.
3. Go To Bed Early – Getting at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night is good for you, so why not go to bed a little earlier? It might take a bit of time to get used to an early bedtime, but it’s easier for your body to adjust during the colder and darker months of the year making January a perfect time to get started.
4. Become A Morning Person – Set that alarm for the time you truly need to be up in the morning and get up right away when it goes off without pushing snooze. Allowing yourself to go back to sleep in the morning, even if just for a few minutes, can make you feel groggy and irritable the rest of day. Instead, push yourself to get right out of bed each morning, and in less than a week, your body will have adjusted and you will begin to wake up feeling ready to get out of bed. 
5. Weigh Yourself Everyday – Don’t be afraid of the scale. Each morning, hop on to check in and see how you’re doing. You can celebrate the small wins as they happen, and make adjustments if you see the numbers going in the wrong direction. Research has shown that people who weigh themselves daily tend to reach their ideal weight more quickly and have better success at maintaining it.  
6. Swap Out Soda – We all know that soda is wasted calories with no nutritional value. We also all know how delicious it is. I personally have a massive root beer habit I need to kick. So slowly swap out those empty calories for something more healthy like sparkling water or green tea. Your body and kidneys will thank you! 
7. Write Down Your Grocery List – Rather than strolling through the grocery store impulse buying all of the yummy desserts and snack foods you see, make a list before you go. Even better, shop for your groceries online to pick them up or have them delivered. Keep yourself out of the store completely and resist the temptation of all of the tasty treats. Studies show that people who make a grocery list before shopping, purchase healthier options and weigh less.
8. Set Out Your Exercise Gear – If you plan on exercising, try setting out your exercise gear the night before. Generally, the hardest thing about exercising is actually getting started, and it is much more difficult to skip it, when your gear is staring you in the face reminding you of the promise you made to yourself. 
9. Share Your Food – Before you’re about to eat your meal, snap a quick pic of it, and share it on social media. Are you proud of what you are about to put in your body? Is your meal nutritious? Will you feel better after eating it? Or do you not want to share it? Is the meal unhealthy? Will you feel worse after eating it? This is a great way to hold yourself accountable.
10. Drink Your Coffee – Go ahead and start your day with a cup of black coffee. Recent studies have shown that people who consume coffee each morning have a higher metabolism than people who don’t drink it. So your jumpstart each morning, will actually help you burn more calories throughout the day.
11. Meal Prep – When we’re tired, we often reach for those easy, high calories foods in a drive thru. To combat this common problem, do some simple meal prep that you can grab during those weak moments. It doesn’t need to be anything complicated, just prewash some fruit or veggies and place them in baggies for snacks. Make up a couple of turkey sandwiches or simple salads and box them up for a quick meal. Anything healthy that can quickly energize you without costing you the money or calories of a fast food meal.
12. Take A Break From Sitting – It is so easy to sit all day, especially now during the winter with so many things closed down. Be sure to take a break from sitting multiple times a day. Again, this can be something very simple…between Netflix shows or YouTube videos do a few trips up and down the stairs in your home. Make some laps around your house, lift full laundry baskets, canned goods, or packages delivered from Amazon. Anything to get you up and moving several times throughout the day, and to break up the sitting we are all doing right now.
13. Start Snacking – If you get hungry between meals, that’s okay, just be sure you’re reaching for nutritious snacks. Grab some fruit, veggies, nuts, or a protein bar and enjoy. Getting healthy doesn’t mean starving or depriving yourself, it’s all about making choices to build a stronger, more energetic body!

So when making your 2024 resolutions, remember to be kind to yourself, include a few goals that you know you can do, and then enjoy the good health and happiness you feel as a result of achieving them. You’ve got this! 

What are your favorite easy ways to get healthy?
Please let me know in the comments!