13 New Healthy Habits That Changed My Life in 2018
Now that the New Year is almost here, New Years Resolutions are a common topic of conversation...and while I rarely make a strict resolution, I do love making small changes to my everyday routine that add up to a BIG impact. So I thought I’d join The Mighty’s #52SmallThings challenge and share 13 small healthy habits - in diet, exercise and just everyday life - that made my life a 1000% better this year.
Like always, I want to make it clear that I'm not a dietician, nutritionist or doctor. I'm just a girl with two chronic illnesses who likes sharing what lifestyle choices help me thrive, mentally and physically! So if you do want to make big changes in your life in 2019 (or even enact some of the bigger changes in diet, exercise, etc. that I mention in this post), I recommend talking to a medical professional first. But if you're looking for ideas of healthy New Years resolutions or small tweaks you can make in 2019 that could improve your whole life, keep reading to find inspiration in what habits worked for me!
1. Replacing half of my TV time with audiobooks.
My college roommates could attest to the fact that I used to be Addicted to Netflix, Hulu and other streaming sites. I’m a natural multitasker, so I’d always have some show playing in the background as I blogged, did chores, cooked or surfed the web. And I still watch TV shows regularly (check out my list of first-rate meals-related documentaries on Netflix if you need new show recommendations!). However, I’d say I watch a quarter of what I used to...and that’s because I’ve started listening to audiobooks instead! 
Not only does this let me read more books during the school year (when I rarely have time to physically “read” anything beyond my assigned books) but audiobooks have also been shown to improve critical listening, comprehension, vocabulary, pronunciation - whether you're a student or an adult reader. Plus, listening to audiobooks could also save you money in the long run if you stop paying for cable or pay for just one streaming service. I get all of my audiobooks from the library using OverDrive, so I’d highly recommend seeing if your library offers the same OverDrive resource.
2. Finding teas that I certainly love to drink.
I actually have my sister to thank for starting this healthy habit since her Christmas gift to me last year was a big bundle of gluten free, decaffeinated tea. Before her gift, I always wanted to like tea but never drank it regularly. This past year, though, Bigelow's Lemon Ginger Herbal Tea + Probiotics and Orange & Spice Tea have become my favorite way to warm up on a very cold day in Minnesota. Plus, I’ve found that drinking a warm cup of tea is a great way to practice self-care on days when my stomach or digestion is acting up. So whether you’re trying to stop drinking coffee and want to get your caffeine from tea instead or just want the Health advantages that can come from positive varieties of tea, drinking more tea is an easy New Years resolution or small, healthy habit to try.  |
| PS - that glass straw is from Foods Alive, for whom I serve as an ambassador, and it is super awesome! |
Three. Being LESS strict with my weight loss program.
I know that especially around the New Years, people are usually trying to eat healthier and cut out a lot of the treats they’ve been enjoying during the holidays. But I’ve been taking a different approach in 2018 - and it’s been working so well, I don’t plan on changing it in 2019: I’ve been eating a little bit of anything and everything (that’s gluten free).Like I’ve written about before, I’ve experimented with a LOT of different diets since my celiac disease diagnosis. I’ve tried paleo. I’ve tried eating super clean with little to no processed foods. And for a lot of 2017 and 2018, I ate vegan. But in the latter half of last year, I continued loosening up on my diet. I ate meat when I felt like it and more ice cream in one semester than I probably ate in all 2017. I experimented with different gluten free foods, like hummus and freezer meals. And you know what? I’m happier. I’m at a healthier weight (more on that below). And it's been pretty freakin' delicious to eat ground turkey with my dinner or ice cream with my night snack.
This isn?T to say which you should cross crazy on whatever ingredients (if any) you?Ve been restricting currently. And obviously there are some meals that DON'T do properly with human beings (like gluten for human beings with celiac ailment), and it IS an act of self-care to keep away from those triggers. However, I did need to proportion my revel in to reveal that consuming ?Flawlessly? Or eating a sure diet isn?T always better than simply ingesting what your body craves and going with the waft.
4. Establishing a regular weight-lifting routine.
One of the other biggest reasons I think I gained some curves and muscle in 2018? I started lifting weights On a ordinary foundation...and progressively lifting heavier.I’ve flirted with the weight room since junior year of college, but I always did more cardio than weight lifting. And I still do a desirable amount of cardio (this gal loves a stair stepper workout!), but leg injuries forced me to dive deeper into the realm of weight lifting, and I’m really glad they did! I’m certainly no pro at lifting weights and still don’t lift very heavy compared to many people, but I love how strong I feel now and getting to challenge myself by slowly racking up the weight.
Nowadays, it seems a LOT more socially perfect for ladies to boost weights and use the load room at gyms. However, it truly can feel intimidating to stroll right into a weight room complete of massive dudes who all appear to recognise precisely what they?Re doing. Just recognize that obtaining to peer and feel yourself getting stronger is so really worth that preliminary soreness or the days it takes you to parent out weight lifting gadget and proper form. Gaining a few extra curves alongside the manner has just been a bonus!
Five. Listening to podcasts when I'm working out or doing chores.
This year also marked the start of my love for podcasts. While I listened to them every so often before, now I go through a handful of episodes each week, and it’s definitely given me some new topics to bring up in conversations. Plus, depending on the podcast I listen to, I often feel less alone about certain struggles I’m going through (like the general chaos of life in your 20s) and learn new skills related to mindfulness, meditation, gratitude, etc. 
Of path, it is important to offer yourself a smash and now not be being attentive to something each unmarried minute of your day. But if you need to update some of your TV with informative or pleasing podcasts, or just need to learn some new information for your spare time, a number of my fave podcasts right now are:
- Trader Joe’s (Inside) - all about Trader Joe’s, as told from various employees on the inside
- How I Built This - each episode features an interview with a new entrepreneur about how they succeeded at building their company or brand
- Freakonomics Radio - in-depth conversations with various experts on interesting topics ranging from the obesity crisis to the connection between religion and happiness
- Oprah’s Supersoul Conversations - it’s Oprah and she’s interviewing a bunch of crazy cool people about deep takeaways they’ve gotten from life
- That's So Maven- I only just discovered that The Healthy Maven (an awesome blog) has its own, equally awesome podcast all about health, wellness and everyday life.
6. Saying "yes" to social activities I to begin with felt at the fence approximately going to.
To be completely honest...I’m a homebody. 9/10 Friday nights, I’m chilling in my apartment with Netflix and Homemade granola. But in 2018, I tried to say “yes” to more invitations, even if they were out of my comfort zone. And as a result, I......Stayed up until 2 AM dancing at a club in downtown Minneapolis.
...Went to a live performance held with the aid of one in every of my professors and determined that tipsy human beings in reality like my fuzzy black headband.
...Nearly iced over seeing Christmas lighting fixtures in Mankato however also controlled to peer a few actual-stay reindeer!
...Am visiting a special someone in San Diego for part of my Christmas damage. (And if you be aware that I'm a bit quiet on the weblog/social media next week, this go to is why!)
I wouldn?T say that the whole lot I said ?Yes? To in 2018 become a whole achievement. But I?M going to start 2019 with a heck of quite a few accurate recollections that I wouldn?T have made if I?D said ?No? To everything that turned into a bit out of my consolation quarter.
7. Saying "no" to things I felt like I SHOULD do...However actually failed to need or want.
At the same time, though, healthy living for me involves saying “no” to a desirable amount of social or work invitations. The truth is, Grad college is laborious...especially when you’re also working several jobs and have two chronic illnesses. So a lot of the time, I can’t do all the things I want to. I still feel guilty sometimes for not being a “desirable enough” MFA student since I miss so many department-related events. And a big part of me wishes I could live off of 4 or 6 hours of sleep like other college students and dedicate those extra hours to blogging more or doing more freelance work or spending more time with friends. 
But my body doesn’t work like that. And if you have your own health struggles or just have the tendency to say “yes” to things out of obligation instead of actual enjoyment...maybe the best New Years resolution is saying “no” more. Staying in on a Saturday night if that’s what your mind or body needs. Making friends with people who understand when you need some alone time. And, at the most basic level, saying “yes” to your own needs BEFORE saying “yes” to anything else.
Personally, I recognize that?S one ?Intention? I?M continually going to be running on, along with in 2019!
8. Starting every morning with a solo dance birthday celebration.
This year of grad school, I’m teaching an 8 AM Intro to English Composition class. And I’m not gonna lie. Sometimes it’s hard to get myself out of bed, across campus and excited to teach that early in the morning. This last semester, though, I’ve started playing even just a few minutes of my favorite songs when I wake up, and I think it’s definitely helped make me a little more motivated to head off to class. Research even Reports that listening to music that you like triggers the release of dopamine, or the “happy hormone” in the brain. So the next time you have an early morning you’re not looking forward to or just need a pick-me-up anytime in the day, groovin’ to some of your favorite tunes might help! 
nine. Foam rolling after each unmarried exercising.
I don’t really have much to say about this exceptDo it. 2018 was the first year that I actually committed to foam rolling any time I do a leg workout, and it has seriously done wonders for my soreness and healing from my leg injuries.10. Eating greater plant-based protein...But not restricting myself from meat.
I already mentioned this a little bit earlier on in the post, but it was a big enough change to deserve its own bullet. If you follow me on Instagram, you probably noticed that over the past year and a half, I’ve been eating more hummus and beans than my old favorite of candy potato salmon sliders. During that time, I love that I was able to slowly increase my stomach’s tolerance for legumes (by eating a verrrrry small amount of beans and then working up) and I’ve really enjoyed experimenting with new plant-based foods like pulled BBQ jackfruit or selfmade hummus. 
But over the last few months, I?Ve introduced meat lower back into my weight loss program. And you realize what? I?Ve observed that?S what works pleasant for me.
Now I'm not saying that a vegan diet can't work for people or isn't a desirable idea. If you don't want to eat meat or eggs or dairy and that works for you, great! And I can honestly say that a vegan and gluten free diet can still be super delicious. But if 2018 taught me anything, it's that every body thrives on a different diet. And I just hope that anyone who wants to experiment with a new diet in 2019 or make a healthy eating New Year's resolution remembers that!
Eleven. Sharing normal smartphone calls with vintage pals.
I was warned about how hard it would be to stay in contact with University buddies after graduation, and that’s definitely true. Last year, though, I tried to make it more of a priority to catch up with old friends and it felt super rewarding. As anyone who’s ever been (or is presently) in their 20s knows, it’s a really weird time. People are doing everything from still living at home with their parents to getting married and having kids to starting their career to being in school like me. And during weeks when I feel really unsure about what the heck I was doing with life, it helps a lot to have someone to talk to who knows me but is now doing something totally different than I am. 
12. Turning off push notifications for my social media apps.
I’m not gonna lie. I spend a loooot of time on my phone. But one step that did help in 2018 was turning off push notifications for social media apps. A 2015 study actually Tested the effects of saying "no" to push notifications and found that people were more productive and less distracted in the first 24 hours. And when researchers checked in with study participants one year later, two-thirds had chosen to keep their notifications off, increasing their long-term chances of being less stress and more focused.Now, I wouldn?T say that muting notifications has grew to become me right into a splendid effective superwoman. But I suppose it does assist preserve me from getting distracted by way of every Facebook comment or Instagram direct message when they manifest - and, not less than, no damage was completed by turning my push notifications off!
13. Celebrating the moments once I walk with the aid of the replicate and think, "Dang lady, you are lookin' top!"
Body picture with celiac ailment is always a complicated topic, and I definitely haven't discovered the secret to self-love with chronic illness. BUT in 2018, I did get a lot better at celebrating the moments when I do feel at home in my body, no matter what surprises it throws my way. And here's the biggest thing about self-love and self-care I learned in 2018: it doesn't have to be complicated! It doesn't require fancy face masks or a morning ritual of staring at the mirror and saying everything you love about your body. It can be as simple as taking a selfie or taking an extra moment to smile in the mirror on days you're feeling reallydesirable. 
If you want to step up your whole self-love and self-care routine, check out my posts (here and here) on some simple and quick self-love activities you can try. But don't forget to get the most out of the little moments, too, when you feel awesome and can celebrate that vibe!
My Biggest Goal for 2019
Even as I'm finishing up this post on Christmas Day, it blows my mind that 2018 is almost over. It was not a perfect year (is there even such a thing?!?) but it was a year full of growth and laughter and adventures and challenges and successes...and new healthy habits that I'm definitely going to keep up in the New Year!Like I said earlier in this post, I rarely make New Year's resolutions, and that isn't changing in 2019. But I do like picking a word to focus on...and in 2019, my word is going to be "open."
Open to new possibilities, even supposing they scare me or are not what I turned into making plans or awaiting.
Open to changes in my recurring, even supposing routine is what I'm most comfortable with.
And, of course, open to coming across extra habits that will help me stay a glad, wholesome lifestyles!
What's one wholesome addiction this is changed your life? Tell me inside the comments!
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