In 2023, the world might be a very different place. We will have to adapt to new technologies, but as the technology is updating, you also need to keep yourself updated. We all make new resolutions every new year so here are the 23 lifestyle tips for a better 2023.
1) Keep your living space clean and organized:
Clutter can lead to mental health problems, so you must have a clean and organised home. The more mess you have around you, the more mess it can create in your head. It will also save you time as by organising your home according to your needs, you will be faster with your chores, won’t have to waste time looking for necessary items, and your day will start clean and fresh. I love buying organisers for all rooms from IKEA! Keeping your house tidy, especially your workspace will ensure your environment is soothing and boost your productivity!
2) Spend time outdoors:
No matter, if you are hiking in the mountains or just sitting on your porch, outside, increases your happiness levels. I know this works because I’ve had first-hand experience! By taking my dog on a morning walk every day, my day starts with me feeling energized and refreshed! Getting some morning sunlight is perfect to set the tone for a bright day ahead, or sitting on your balcony in the evenings will soothe away the day’s worries and help you sleep better at night! My friends sometimes use long weekends to go trekking and camping, and come back re-energized and ready for work!
3) Get enough sleep:
This, in my opinion, is one of the most important lifestyle tips. Smartphone addiction nowadays is increasing and it is one of the major reasons that people stay awake late after midnight. Good sleep is underrated. So many of us are stuck in life’s fast pace, and we often forget to take care of ourselves. One of the things that suffer the most in our busy schedules is good sleep. Sleep deprivation has been linked with many health problems, including heart disease and cancer, so make sure you get at least 6-7 hours of sleep every night. Maintaining a strict sleep schedule will give your body the rest it needs, aiding in recovery, and you’ll wake up fresh as a daisy!
4) Take care of your mental health:
Still today, people don’t take mental health as seriously as they care for physical health. With the advancement of technology and life, in general, being all about ‘the hustle’, our mental health is shot. Stress, anxiety and depression are common and ignored. Depression is a common issue among people in their 20s and 30s. It is really difficult to tell if someone is suffering from mental issues. Even if a person looks very happy and cheerful doesn’t mean that he is not depressed or stressed. One can see a professional if necessary, for tips on how to handle mental health issues, or you can do activities that help you relax and unwind, be it journaling, running, or even just reflecting on your day.
5) Maintain a balanced diet:
The human body needs a combination of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats daily to function properly. Only then will you be able to maintain a healthy body. By eating right, you will be giving your body the nutrition it needs, and also maintaining a healthy figure! There are a lot of health benefits if you are taking a balanced diet. Eating a balanced diet also helps in regulating digestive processes, which in turn eliminates issues such as acidity and heartburn.
6) Get enough sunlight:
This is one of those lifestyle tips everybody ignores till it’s too late. When I said above that you should spend time outdoors, one of the reasons was that you will get sunlight. Don’t underestimate the power of Vitamin D! Sun exposure is necessary for good health and can increase your happiness levels significantly. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to a loss of bone density and can cause severe fatigue. This can affect the rest of your day, leading to stress and lethargy. Who doesn’t love it when they get something for free, so sunlight is also a free source of Vitamin D, don’t miss it!
We have got one more competitor for addictions. It is social media addiction that I am talking about. Too many of us are chronically online these days. One of the most difficult lifestyle tips to follow, but definitely an important one. The first thing most people do when they wake up is check their phones. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and WhatsApp all these platforms are fun but extremely addictive. 15 minutes of scrolling turns into 45 minutes, and you don’t even realise it. Spending too much time on social media has been linked with depression and anxiety, so try to avoid it as a daily habit. Seeing digitally altered photos of people can make you wonder about your appearance and lower your self-esteem. After a while, it ceases to be a fun thing to do and instead becomes all about the numbers.
8) Focus on just one thing at a time:
It’s great to be able to multitask, but it’s totally fine to take it easy and focus on one thing at a time as it will also make you produce better results. Putting all your focus into one activity will ensure you’re giving it your best and will allow you to complete it to your satisfaction. Multi-tasking can make it difficult to focus, which can lead to lower happiness levels. Nowadays, it’s all about the ‘hustle’, so it is very common to see people on social media doing 10 different things all at the same time. This leads to lower self-esteem and doubting your capabilities. However, not everybody is the same, and not everybody has to be. Give your brain the time and space to focus in a way that won’t put a strain on you and affect the rest of your work.
9) Exercise:
“But I’ve got no time!”, just won’t do anymore. These tips are all about doing things that will improve your lifestyle, and exercise is one of the most important things you can do to better your life. You don’t need to exercise for an hour or so but even 15 minutes of regular exercise daily will show you positive results with time. Physical activity has been linked with better moods and is shown to help significantly increase happiness levels. Incorporating exercise into your daily routine will be an absolute life-changer. Not only will you be fitter and healthier, but your mood will improve, setting the tone for the rest of your day.
10) Make Social Connections:
Leave social media apart and be social with your family, friends and people around you. Social connection has been shown to positively affect happiness levels in both children and adults. We are ruined by these online social platforms which only show you one side of the coin. Everybody just shows their happy side on social media, so I would advise you to be social with people around you. In 2023, let’s change the meaning of being social and trust me it will give you more happiness than the followers, likes and comments you get on online social platforms.
11) Meditate:
Meditation is associated with increased mood stability, which leads to improved overall happiness. It is believed that every successful person today do meditate every day and it is their secret ingredient for being successful. Meditation is very powerful and it can increase your concentration level to great heights. Even there are tons of apps with guided meditations for free online. Find a place which is quiet and doesn’t have much noise, sit down and close your eyes. Take long breaths and let those sounds around you come. You don’t even need a completely silent environment but you just need to focus on yourself. Even being effortless, it is one of the most effective lifestyle tips.
12) Substitute coffee with tea:
It may seem like such a small change, but it has a big impact. So many people are dependent on their morning coffee to get them woken up and functional. They jokingly say, “Don’t talk to me before I’ve had my coffee!”. But caffeine addiction is a serious problem. A high caffeine intake worsens symptoms of anxiety and depression. It can significantly disrupt sleep and even affect fertility! That is why it is important to cut down on caffeine. Substituting your daily coffee for a cup of tea will help with this. You will still reap the long-term benefits of caffeine, and won’t have to sacrifice your sleep and won’t have to worry about your LDL cholesterol levels.
13) Drink more water:
One of the most underrated lifestyle tips is – Always be hydrated. This is because dehydration has been shown to increase cortisol levels, which means that you are in a chronically stressed state. The level of cortisol also increases the likelihood of depression and anxiety. Dehydration has many side effects and health issues including headaches, sleepiness, low blood pressure, and dizziness. Some quick ways to rehydrate yourself are water, tea or coffee, fruits and vegetables, low-cream milk and ORS. But you shouldn’t need it if you are regularly drinking more water i.e., about 3-4 litres of water every day.
14) Maintain a sense of humour:
Laughter is an effective way to relieve stress and reduce feelings of loneliness and hopelessness, which can help improve your mood as well as your health. Not only cracking jokes but also trying to be happy all the time by finding happiness in everything. If you have a good sense of humour, then more people will like to be around you and you will also enjoy their company. A person with a good sense of humour is more likely to be happy than one who doesn’t.
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15) Reach out to others:
As I said that you have to be social with people around you, so for that you need to reach out to others. Go out, meet new people, interact with them, and make new connections. Not only new people but also be in touch with your family and loved ones. Taking time out in your day just for you to call or email your loved ones can make a huge difference in your mental health and well-being.
16) Move around regularly:
Due to the increase in online education and work-from-home, people don’t get up from their places. This practice in the long term can lead to backaches and body pains. So always remember to move around taking a very short break. This way of exercising will burn calories and release endorphins that improve mood. This is also a great tip for including in your lifestyle.
Anyways, who likes to sit at home all week? Whether it’s attending a weekly event, taking part in a community service activity, or hosting one yourself, getting out of the house once in a while has been shown to boost mood. Find out about the events happening in your city and take part in them. I am not even asking to attend it daily but at least you should include attending or taking part in social events once a week.
18) Keep a journal of your progress:
Every night before sleeping, you can note down all activities or progress you have made during the day. This will help you to know how productive your day was. Any day when you haven’t done anything will motivate you to do your best the very next day. In the long run, this will finally help you to be more productive. You can start doing this from today itself.
19) Practice gratitude:
Everything in this world is helping you in one or the other way. It doesn’t matter if it is a living or non-living thing, we should always have gratitude towards them and thank them. Think of at least three things every day that you are thankful for and make it a daily habit to picturise what good things and people are happening in your life. Find lists of things to be grateful for, such as what your children do or look like and write a list each day. This practice will bring such a positive change in your life you would feel it within you.
20) Take the time to plan activities:
Before starting your day, take the time to plan your activities or you can also plan it a day before sleeping. When you plan and execute an activity, it helps reduce stress and increase happiness. You will always know that if you are going according to your plan and have time for everything. With a proper schedule, you will always feel satisfied with whatever you are doing and you will be happier throughout the day.
21) Make a list of your goals:
What do you want to achieve in your life? Prepare a list of the goals which you want to achieve in your life. This doesn’t only mean that you will include the big goals, but you should also include small goals. It can include your daily goals, weekly goals or monthly goals too. Make sure that you write it in a bit bigger font and stick it on the wall of your room where you would probably sit for study or work. This can help you track your progress.
22) Spread awareness about mental health:
People are not aware of mental health. If you go and talk about mental health with people, they would probably not listen seriously. You know about it, so go and teach others about mental health. Talking with people also helps you be more expressive and you will be able to give up your stress and worries.
23) Reach out for help if needed:
Don’t feel like what others will think of you. Don’t be afraid to express what you feel to others. It is observed that people who share their thoughts and feelings with others are happier. Often those people who don’t tell others what is going on with them, suffer from depression and other mental health issues. Never feel what people will think about me if I share my problems. Remember that you can achieve everything you want. Talk to your elder siblings and people older than you. Learn from others and keep going and growing.