The top 5 New Year Resolutions to make for 2019

20 Dec The top 5 New Year Resolutions to make for 2019

I’ll be honest, I am not a huge fan of New Year resolutions. They hardly ever work and are usually forgotten by the end of January. But there are some promises we should all commit to in 2019. So make sure these five resolutions are on the top of your list.

1. Eat smaller portions

I find people generally know what is good and bad for them (veggies and fruit – good, ice cream, muffins and sweets – bad), but it is often the portion sizes which lets people down. We tend to eat more than we need to because of stress, using over sized plates, bigger package sizes or eating too fast.

To help you with your portion control, read my blog on the top 5 ways to avoid overeating and my blog on the top 5 tips to help you with portion control.

2. Move more

It is a well known fact that we don’t exercise enough – in fact a third of us don’t exercise enough. A World Health Organisation study found Australia ranks just 97th in the world when it comes to the number of people getting enough physical activity.

The Australian guidelines on exercise suggest for adults they should:

• Be active on most, preferably all, days every week.
• Accumulate 2 ½ to 5 hours of moderate intensity physical activity or 1 ¼ to 2 ½ hours of vigorous intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination of both moderate and vigorous activities, each week.
• Do muscle strengthening activities on at least 2 days each week.

If you are well below these guidelines, then don’t wait for the New Year, start moving now!

3. Drink less booze

The good news is Australians are tending to drink less alcohol than we did in the past. The national guidelines for drinking to reduce the risk of alcohol-related disease or injury recommend:

• Drinking no more than two standard drinks on any day,
• Drinking no more than four standard drinks on a single occasion.

It is possible to drink at a level that is less risky, while still having fun. If you find yourself with a hangover on too many occasions, there are a number of things you can do to make sure you stay within the low risk levels:

• Set limits for yourself and stick to them,
• Start with non-alcoholic drinks and alternate with alcoholic drinks,
• Drink slowly,
• Try drinks with a lower alcohol content,
• Eat before or while you are drinking,
• If you participate in rounds of drinks try to include some non-alcoholic drinks.

4. Sleep more

Let’s face it, we tend to burn the candles at both ends and don’t get the recommended 8 hours of sleep a night. But you can never underestimate the importance of sleeping well – you live longer, you sharpen your attention, you improve your concentration and productivity, you are less likely to put on weight (true story), you lower your stress levels and reduce the chance of heart disease, stroke and depression.

So in 2019, make sure getting a good night’s sleep is a priority. Read my blog on the top tips to getting a better night’s sleep.

5. Make time for yourself

We are often so busy looking after our family, partner, children and work that we forget about the most important person in our life which is ourselves. This is important because it allows you to clear your mind, it reduces anxiety and gives you a more positive attitude.

So next year, make sure you take some time out, slow down and focus on you and what you need. You will be all the more better for it – both physically and mentally.

To help you with this, read my blog on the top 5 reasons you need to take a break on a regular basis.