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5 New Resolutions for 2013

Happy New Year! This time of year, so many of us make healthy resolutions such as eating healthier, getting more exercise and of course, lose weight. And while those goals are as admirable as they are popular, the reality is that fewer than half of people who make those resolutions actually stick to them for even six months.

So instead of those tired old promises, here are 5 new (and different) healthy resolutions to try for 2013.

Prioritize Sleep

Americans are increasingly sleep deprived. According to the CDC we should be getting between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night, but one survey found that nearly 30 percent of adults sleep six or fewer hours each night. And while we often glorify sleep deprivation in our society, it has been linked to health problems such as high blood pressure, obesity, stroke, and memory impairment. Make 2013 the year you put sleep back on the priority list.

Improve Your Posture

How often do you catch yourself slouched over your desk after a long day of work?

Proper posture can, among other things, reduce the abnormal wearing of joints that causes arthritis, prevent back and muscle aches, and decrease stress on the ligaments that hold the spine together. Plus, standing up straight has a way of making you look pounds thinner and simply feel better.

Kick The Diet Soda Habit

Everyone knows that sugar-packed sodas are a recipe for health disaster — but in 2011, some disturbing news came out about its calorie-free counterpart. Two studies suggest that diet soda may be associated with a wider waist in humans, and that aspartame (the artificial flavor that makes the drink sweet) raises blood sugar in mice prone to diabetes. So why not skip sodas completely in 2013? To kick the habit, first identify what it is that draws you to a diet soda. If it’s the caffeine, consider replacing it with unsweetened iced tea, coffee or green tea. If the fizz is what you crave, find a replacement like Pellegrino, mixed with just a splash of juice.

Stop Snacking Just To Snack

Are the snacks in the break room your downfall, or are the leftover holiday cookies hard to resist while watching TV at night — even if you’re not hungry.
Eating when you’re not hungry is hard to recognize and harder to admit. Mindless eating can really add up. One study found that Americans add nearly 600 calories to their daily intake from snacking alone. The next time you’re tempted by a treat when you’re not actually hungry, try a replacement activity like drinking a cup of tea or taking a walking.

Schedule One Thing A Week – Just Because You Want To

We give you permission to put yourself first. Get a manicure, work on a hobby, take a walk, whatever you chose, do it just because you want to. And don’t feel guilty — in fact, give it the same priority as you would to an important project at work or a commitment to a family member. Taking care of yourself is incredibly important but often get neglected.