In need of a #lifeoverhaul? Make 2017 your best year yet.
Like everything, small steps are the best way to create a sustainable transformation. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some effective, easy ways to make changes to your life for the better.
Get up, stand up
It’s simple, but it’s not always easy - especially if you work in an office. Sitting down for long spaces of time causes glucose and fat to build up in the blood, as well as spikes of insulin, which can contribute to lower metabolism and weight gain. Get up and take a short walk every 20 minutes or so to diffuse this harmful build up - your body will thank you for it. Even if you do exercise, you can’t always counteract sedentary activity. Science has found that more than half of female participants who worked out actually put on weight because they felt like they deserved to be less active later on in the day.
Cut ties with energy-drainers
Your mental and emotional health is hugely based on your social circle and intimate relationships. You may feel this isn’t an aspect of your life you have any control over - but this is something you can change straight away. Firstly, think about the five people you spend the most time with. Do you wish to have their happiness? Ambition? Kindness? We’re social animals - and we learn and take on other people’s character traits. If your friends or partner are dragging you down, cut ties and pool your time and energy into cultivating space for new, more-aligned relationships.
Get more of these foods
With so much conflicting nutritional information out there, it can often be confusing trying to pick out the superfoods from the super-fads. But once you start eating right, it can have a huge effect on your life as a whole. Fill up on whole foods - plenty of fruit, vegetables, fish, lean meat, nuts, pulses and whole grains. Avoid added sugars in the form of cakes, biscuits, and fizzy drinks - swapping for healthier alternatives such as honey, maple syrup and chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa.
Learn something new
There’s plenty of evidence to show that learning something new has a positive impact on our happiness and confidence. Not only can it benefit you psychologically, but it may result in a new job, new hobby and even new friends. If you really have a passion for your newfound hobby, you can find yourself creating what psychologists call ‘flow’ - which is when we’re so absorbed in something we’re doing that we lose ourselves and our sense of time. Thanks to technology, there’s no excuse not to learn practically anything your heart desires - from salsa dancing to surfing, website designing to wine-making. If you’re looking for something a little different to get the heart racing, check out the eclectic class schedule at Holmes Place.