The New Year is upon us once again. Part of the reason this blog exists is to shine a light on how individuals with disabilities can focus on their health and wellness. So many times, people outside of the disability community falsely believe that individuals with disabilities must be unhealthy or not care about their health or well-being. This is something that couldn’t be farther from the truth. There are easy steps you can take starting today to get on the road to better health and wellness. Could it be that thinking about a health and wellness routine seems overwhelming and you aren’t sure where to start so you haven’t started one at all? Maybe you have kept up with a healthy routine in the past and for different reasons, somehow you have gotten off track in your pursuit. Either way, you’ve come to the right place. This blog post is going to highlight five ways you can improve your health and wellness in the New Year.
Drink More Water. There are many reasons to drink more water. From helping with digestion to regulating our body temperature, water plays an important part in our lives. Although it may seem like a difficult task to some, there are plenty of ways to help you improve your hydration habits. There are water bottles that have hydration trackers on them to keep you on target with your hydration goals for the day or even apps that are available to remind you to drink enough water when you are at home or on the go.
Start a Gratitude Journal. Gratitude journals are a great way to maintain or regain your focus and have visible proof of positive things in your life. There are many styles of gratitude journals to choose from. If you want to go the pen and paper route when choosing a journal or if you are creative, you could always create one that expresses your individuality. Either way, taking time to write down things you are grateful for could help you have a fresh perspective on any situation. It could also be a great way to help you get into a routine that helps you recharge your energy. Everyone has something to be grateful for and a gratitude journal can allow us the opportunity to focus on that and celebrate it every day. This is also a great way to start and end each day using some of your time for quiet reflection and focusing on the importance of self-care.
Get into Meal Planning. There are amazing benefits to meal planning. All it takes is some planning and a willingness to take the time to set up a routine when it comes to grocery shopping. Meal planning can help improve food choices, keep you on your budget when it comes to grocery shopping and can be a source of empowerment by giving people more control when it comes to nourishing their body. Check out this post if you want more information on the benefits of meal planning.
Keep a Food Diary. Food diaries can help you keep track of your diet and can provide you with potential clues if certain aspects of your health are not functioning the way they should be. It can be an important tool for you and your healthcare provider to use in conjunction with other strategies to monitor your health. You can use a pen and paper type of diary to get you started or you can choose from many food diary apps that are available. There is something to fit everyone’s needs and help you create success in your health and wellness journey.
Make Sleep a Priority. Sleep is something a lot of people don’t get enough of. There are so many ways you can get into a better sleep routine. You can set a bedtime for the same time every night. There are assistive technology devices that can help make the transition toward a more restful sleep. Use timers on the lights in your home to dim the lights at a specific time each night. Some smartphones also have “do not disturb” modes to keep the unwanted late-night texts or phone calls at bay until the next day. Getting better sleep helps to reduce stress and has other benefits as well.
These are just some tips to get your New Year’s health and wellness routine started on the right foot. You are welcome to try all these suggestions, only some of these suggestions, or come up with your own that fit your lifestyle. If you happen to stumble across this blog post somewhere after the new year has begun, don’t worry. You can always start taking steps to improve your health and wellness anytime throughout the year.
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