Everyday you have the opportunity to make positive changes in your life, make healthier choices and set new intentions for your life.
I always feel more reflective towards the end of the year, I love to look at what I am doing that is positive in my life, where I can make changes and what intentions I want to set myself for 2023. Wow, 2023! It feels really strange to write and say that date.
Healthy good habits will look really different to everyone because we all have our own outlook on what is healthy to us as well as what they wish to focus on. But, whatever your preferences, it is important to check in with yourself. If you want to make some positive changes to your daily habits, the start of a new year is the perfect time.
A new year, a new me mantra gets a bad rap but the idea behind it is making positive changes and for some a new year brings that ultimate fresh start. Of course you can start fresh every single day however, the beginning of a new year for me especially signifies the best fresh start, a blank canvas to create new opportunities.
I stopped making resolutions a while ago, instead I set intentions and goals that I want to achieve. I check in with my goals, habits and intentions every quarter as I am continuously changing and life happens. This is a list of 11 daily habits that I want to practise in 2023. These habits are important for me because a lot of these will help to improve my Fibromyalgia symptoms….hopefully! But also help me feel empowered, have good mental health and show personal growth and development.
Photo by Grant Ritchie on Unsplash
These are 11 daily habits I am going to start in 2023:
1. Drink more water
Did you know that our bodies are 60% water? So it is important not to get dehydrated, as it can cause headaches, fatigue and even increases cravings. Drinking more water will hopefully help my fatigue and reduce any headaches. I don’t know about you, but I find it really difficult to drink water. I think I am going to try getting a bottle with the timescales on to motivate me.
2. Make time for movement
Everyone’s lives have become a lot more sedentary, you could be sat down working, travelling and even relaxing. So it is important to create ways to move as it is no longer happening naturally. As humans we are designed to move. When I worked with the Dorset Pain Clinic the whole programme was about how movement can actually make Fibromyalgia better. It sounds strange, but moving more (gradually) can actually improve your pain, fatigue and other symptoms.
In the new year I will be going swimming regularly as this is the easiest way for me to exercise as soon as I finish my laser treatment for an old tattoo. My goal eventually is to be back in the gym regularly like before my work accident.
I currently have a daily step goal of 2,500 it sounds small but on days where it is hard to walk, reaching even that daily goal can be quite hard. So 2023 is definitely when I am going to work on more movement.
3. Spend time outside
Being outdoors in nature with fresh air has so many overall health benefits. Spending time being exposed to the sun enables your body to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D is proven to have many important functions in the body. When you have a vitamin D deficiency it can lead to fatigue, weakened immune system, bone and back pain, low mood or even depression.
I have had a vitamin D deficiency a while ago and learned more about how you can improve your vitamin levels, not just with supplements and sunshine. I am going to embrace nature in all seasons and make time to be outside – by going on a daily walk!
4. Put my phone away
Continuous digital connection can increased perceived stress. Constant exposure to blue light it has been shown to supress the production of the body’s natural melatonin production. Melatonin is imperative for the body’s natural circadian rhythm and sleep patterns.
I have been better at putting my phone down during dinners and family gatherings. However, I am not good at putting my phone down at night time or weekends. I am always doing blog work when really I should be taking time for myself. I am planning to set these boundaries with my phone and work times in 2023.
5. Make more connections
If lockdown taught us anything is that connecting to loved ones and others is key for our physical and mental health.
I am wanting to meet more people in my blogging and personal life. Make new connections, learn from them and grow because of them. It can be so difficult to make friends as an adult I have found, do you feel the same? 2023 is a year for me to push myself out my comfort zone and meet new people.
Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash
6. Make time to read a little everyday
Reading is such a popular self-care activity that can actually improve your long-term neurological function.
I have a few books that I am still yet to read and I keep meaning to read them, but then other things take priority. In 2023 I want to schedule time to read as part of my self-care routine as when I get into a book I really enjoy myself. So instead of scrolling on my phone or doing blog work in the evenings, I want to pick up my book instead.
7. Stretch before I get into bed
When you have been busy all day, you have pushed your body and so it is important to relieve the muscle tension with simple stretches. Practising these stretches each night before you get into bed can improve blood flow and even help you sleep better. With Fibromyalgia joints can become stiff and sore a lot and so I want to what I can to limit the amount of pain I experience in the mornings.
8. Use SPF in my skincare routine
Whether it is a sunny day or not, it is imperative for both short and long-term health. Using sunscreen daily helps you to prevent sun damage and skin cancer can be a serious concern.
I have SPF but I am always forgetting to put it on every morning. It needs to be a permanent fixture in my skincare routine. So I think I am going to have to put this task on my habit tracker to hold me accountable.
Photo by Becky Fantham on Unsplash
9. Cook more
Learning to cook new fresh recipes will bring you so many health benefits. When you cook you learn what ingredients are in your food and you know you are using the most healthiest ingredients. Cooking or baking can be a great form of self-care and you are learning a new skill, which is improving your growth and development.
Since being diagnosed I have learned about the foods that are great for inflammation and other foods that are good for joint and bone health. Sometimes cooking can be difficult for me because of the pain, so I am definitely wanting to find quick and easy healthy recipes that I can give a go next year.
10. Establish an evening routine
Sleep is an integral element of a healthy and happy lifestyle. If you become sleep deprived or have a lack of sleep it can cause a loss of focus, reduction in productivity, weight gain, burn out, weakened immune system and so much more.
Having an evening routine can enable you to have a decent night sleep especially as I thrive on organisation and routine. I want to create a good evening routine that allows me to wind down properly and to set a strict sleep time to help with my Fibromyalgia.
11. Journal
Journaling is a great form of self-care and it can be a few minutes each day. Journaling gives you an opportunity to offload thoughts and feelings to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
There are so many forms of journaling including: morning pages, gratitude journaling and ingratitude journaling. It can be therapeutic, rewarding and healing. Journaling was a regular self-care activity for me and then I just stopped, but I do miss it. In this upcoming year I want to make sure I journal and try new journaling styles.
These are 11 healthy habits that I want to adopt in 2023 to grow, develop as well as be the healthiest version I can be of myself. I am excited for the new year and how I can move forward positively.
What habits do you want to start or focus on in 2023? I’d love to hear in the comments.
One of mine is to get back into walking more often as well as ignoring my phone
I hope you get to do more walking. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I know exactly what you mean about drinking more water, I find it difficult too. Even though I know how important it is, I still struggle to do it consistently – must try harder!
I hope you manage it. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Making new friends or connections, as you said, is one habit I want to work on improving this year. I’m an introvert, so I don’t usually go outside. But this year, I really want to meet new people 🙂 Thanks for sharing this x
Thank you for reading and commenting. I hope you achieve your goals and habits!
Most of these habits are ones that I’m trying to be more conscious of doing every day this year as well. I’ve started journaling a lot more over the last few weeks and I’ve found it SO beneficial for my mental health and just getting things off my chest in a healthy way, so I’m hoping to keep that up for the year. Movement is a big one for me as well but I’m trying not to put pressure on myself to “do the workout” and instead do what feels good in the moment!
That sounds awesome. Journaling is such a powerful practice. Even just walking around is movement, definitely not forcing what doesn’t feel good, will be a huge win! Thank you for reading and commenting.
All of these are such great habits to get in too. I I definitely need to drink more water, for some reason I just really struggle with it. Even though it comes with so many benefits. Also I would 100% recommend learning how to cook, I’ve been slowly learning over the years, and it’s so rewarding to try new things and get a tasty meal at the end of it xx
Hannah | https://luxuryblush.co.uk/
I hope you get to achieve these habits consistently throughout the year. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Some are the same as you … and for health reasons too. Be more active; develop a consistent exercise routine; I need a sleep routine, and probably an earlier bedtime. I plan to read more and write more, being more creative.
These sound like some great habits to improve your physical and mental health overall. Good luck with them. Thank you for reading and commenting.
We have similar goals for 2023. We want to make sure we read every day, use spf facial lotion every day, cook at home more and stretch. Good luck!
Good luck with being consistent with your habits. Thank you for reading and commenting.
This is a great list and I share many of these habits. I’m trying to get better at journalling regularly – even if it’s just a line or two about my day. I’m also trying to do some physical activity every day as I got a bit lazy at the end of last year. Happy New Year and I look forward to hearing about your progress on these habits.
Thank you! I hope you manage to journal. It is such a powerful thing to do! Thank you for reading and commenting. Happy New Year to you also!
I love these habits. I also have a few habit trackers, and I hope to keep them up all year. Reading has never really been a good habit or hobby, so I am trying to shoot for 23 books this year… I’m not sure I’ll make it, but I will make the effort, at least. Good luck to you!
Thank you for reading and commenting. I hope you manage to achieve your habits. If you have a blogger can you link.
Honestly I need to add a lot of these to my list too. I’m hoping to have a morning routine this year that involve some of these like stretching and journaling but I may add a few more things after looking at this list.
Good luck with your habits! Thank you for reading and commenting.
Looking forward to hearing how your 2023 goals are achieved! They would make for some good blog reads!
Thank you for reading and commenting.
I love these habits Lauren, I really want to try and stretch more because I think it should help my endo x
That’s a really good habit to start. Good luck with it. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Great list Lauren! Swimming is such a fun activity and it’s a great full body workout. I also want to work on establishing an evening routine and spending less time on my phone. Thanks for sharing and good luck on your goals!
I hope you manage to achieve all of your habits. Thank you for reading and commenting.
We have a lot of similar goals with consideration to the conditions we’ve been dealt. My goal is continue on my workout routines. It can be tricky to reduce screen time as a creator but it can be done. Good luck on smashing your intentions for 2023. 😊
I hope you manage to achieve your habits! Thank you for reading and commenting.
You and I have similar habits we want to create/be better at – in 2023 !
I hope you manage to achieve them. Thank you for reading and commenting.
You had me at Drink More Water! I am so, so, so bad at this! I know that coffee contains water, but that’s not appropriate!!! Love this post, you’ve given me something to think about.
Thank you for reading and commenting. I hope you manage to drink more. X
These are great habits and definitely help to improve lifestyle. The evening routine is good and something I want to achieve as well.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Good luck with your habits this year!
I really like the idea of setting intentions and goals instead of resolutions. Good luck with all your daily habits! I have been moving more myself since last fall and it definitely gave me more energy!
Thank you for reading and commenting. Have a great 2023!
I definitely want to try and read more and up my exercise game. Thanks for sharing!
That’s great! Thank you for reading and commenting.
In 2022 I really exercised staying off my phone more, and limiting my time online and it really did me the world of good, and had such a positive effect on my mental health!
These are some great daily habits for 2023 and I hope that you’re able to achieve them all! X
That is a great change to have made in 2022. Thank you for reading and commenting. Great to see your name pop up and I hope you have a fantastic 2023!
There’s so many things here that are similar for me too. Reading is a big goal of mine but also taking time off blog work in the evenings to watch a show by myself.
I hope you get to achieve these habits. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I REALLY need to start drinking water!
It is a good habit to do!
I absolutely need to adopt every single one of these habits, especially putting my phone down. It’s so so hard though!
I hope it helps you. Thank you for reading and commenting.