Five refreshing habits for 2023

I love the beginning of a new year!

It is a great opportunity to refresh the way we do things and embrace the next chapter.

Here are my top five suggestions for healthy habits to cultivate in 2023 and beyond …

1.???Embrace a beginner’s mindset

Embracing a beginner’s mindset refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness and lack of preconceptions. The term is translated from the word, Shoshin, which comes from Zen Buddhism. By adopting a beginner’s mindset we approach every situation we encounter as if it is the first time we are experiencing it.

It helps us to be free of preconceptions of how something works and free of expectations about what will happen next. A beginner’s mindset helps us to be curious about understanding things more deeply and more open to a world of possibilities and refreshing new adventures.

2.???Keep Hydrated

Dehydration can affect our emotions because it slows our circulation, which lowers blood flow. This means less oxygen travels to our brain and it is not able to function properly. If we find ourselves feeling irritated, nervous, sluggish, or even hungry, we may well be dehydrated.

By keeping hydrated, we will feel more alert and energised. There are lots of delicious herbal teas available and these will also add to our recommended quota of around 6-8 glasses a day. Chopping up our favourite fruit and adding it to water can make it taste more delicious. A good way to boost water intake is to drink a glass before we eat a meal and I also find keeping a topped-up reusable bottle close at hand a great way to keep hydrated and energised.

3.???Walk in the rain

Scientific studies have shown that the air is cleaner during and after heavy rainfall. This is because when raindrops fall through the atmosphere, they attract hundreds of particles of pollutants before hitting the ground. So, invigorating breaths of rainy air can stimulate our senses.

Rain also helps to improve the health of our hair and skin so collecting rain water to bath in occasionally can be a lovely natural treat. Also, walking in the rain helps to burn more calories as we tend to walk at a faster pace so this can reduce body fat and make us healthier.

4.???Let the laughter in

Even in challenging times, it helps to seek out the funny side of situations. Having a good laugh can decrease stress hormones and increase immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies.

Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, promoting an overall sense of well-being and relaxation. Endorphins can even temporarily relieve pain. Even the simple act of smiling can give us a boost. Smiling stimulates neural messaging in our brain which helps to elevate our mood. A smile can trigger the release of mood-boosting neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.

When we look in the mirror first thing in the morning it is well worth taking a moment to pause and smile at our reflection. Starting our day the way that we would love it to continue is a great habit to get in so many ways life is like a mirror, smile at it and it smiles back at you.

5.???Be grateful and celebrate

It is so important to appreciate and celebrate our success no matter how small our achievements may be. It takes hard work, effort and discipline to deliver positive outcomes, so we all deserve a positivity party!

When we take time to appreciate our success and celebrate, endorphins are released inside our body that make us feel great. When we accomplish something and we don’t take the time to celebrate, we are denying ourselves that all-important feel-good factor.

At the end of each day it is a good habit to identify our top three highlights and be grateful for all the things that we have managed to achieve and do well.

You are invited to a mood booster webinar ...

I will be hosting a complimentary 45 minute webinar on Tuesday 17th January at 2pm (GMT)

You can register here and even if you can't join on the day then free resources will be sent to you ...

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