When the calendar flips to January, approximately 40 percent of Americans set New Year’s resolutions, yet 75 percent abandon their goals by February.
At The Chiropractic Health Center of Glastonbury, we teach our patients that health and wellness are lifelong commitments. It’s much more effective to work towards small goals, rather than setting the bar too high and ultimately not reaching them.
We’re sharing 6 healthy habits for the New Year & New You!
1. Meditate Daily
In today’s fast-paced world, it can be hard to stop and focus on ourselves. Thoughts are constantly swirling around in our heads, which can lead to mental exhaustion. In 2020, we encourage everyone to reduce everyday stress by practicing mindful meditation.
Meditation is a type of mind and body training that focuses our brain and redirects thoughts to the present moment. The goals of this psychological practice include improved mood, controlled anxiety and enhanced self-awareness.
There are many different ways to meditate, from guided visualization to Tai Chi and yoga. For beginners, we recommend starting with focused breathing exercises. In a quiet place, sit or lie down with your eyes closed and focus your brain simply on inhaling and exhaling. As you become more comfortable with the practice, repeating a single word or mantra can help improve concentration.
Meditation has been proven to relieve pain, lower blood pressure, fight depression, aid in smoking cessation and improve insomnia, among other health benefits.
2. Drink More Water
The average human body is made up of 60 percent water, however many people do not drink enough to stay hydrated. Water helps with basic bodily functions, protects the spine and lubricates the joints.
For proper hydration, a good rule of thumb is half one’s body weight in ounces. For instance, a 150 pound person needs to drink 75 ounces of water per day. If you dislike the bland taste of water, fresh fruit slices add natural flavor.
3. Be Active Every Day
The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. These activities may include jogging, aerobics, dancing, biking or tennis. Lower impact options include walking and swimming.
Chiropractic care keeps our patients feeling great and allows them to lead an active lifestyle. Our treatment helps improve form and posture, so the body can safely engage in exercise!
4. Focus on Posture
Although we’ve always been told to stand up straight, you might find yourself slouching throughout the day. Poor posture can lead to chronic back and neck discomfort that keeps us from our favorite activities. Focus on sitting and standing tall to relieve muscle tension and improve flexibility, experience less headaches and lower susceptibility to injury.
5. Get More Sleep
How many times have you neglected sleep to meet a deadline or catch the end of a game? A good night’s rest gives our bodies and minds the chance to heal, yet we often take its benefits for granted. Sleep helps us recall information, focus on tasks, reduces stress and makes us less susceptible to illness.
A chiropractor can identify reasons why you may struggle to fall asleep and suggest lifestyle changes to improve your nighttime routine.
6. Get Adjusted
Relieve your body from holiday and end-of-the-year stress with a chiropractic adjustment! Our doctors use gentle techniques to release muscle tension caused by compressed nerves and keep your spine and central nervous system aligned. Regular adjustments help maintain the integrity of the body’s core systems and keep you active all year!
For 28 years, our team has provided chiropractic care and wellness tips to patients throughout Connecticut. To learn more about what The Chiropractic Health Center of Glastonbury can offer you, contact us today!
