Inside Scoop: Here are five mindful practices that you can add to your New Year’s resolutions to help relax your body and mind.

Sure, New Year’s day may have passed but that doesn’t mean you can’t add more things to your list! Now’s the time to correct any lows you experienced during 2019 and contemplate what you want out of the upcoming days. Last year you may have said that you would go to the gym, visit your grandmother more, or eat more plants. However, sometimes life gets in the way, and your plan to go to the gym four days a week just doesn’t happen, and that’s okay! 

Whether 2019 was your year or not, it’s never too late to set some more goals for yourself to add to your 2020 New Year’s resolutions. Here are five mindful practices that you can add to your New Year’s resolutions.

5 Mindful Practices to Add to Your Routine

Try New Calming Activities

There are all sorts of activities that can help relax the mind and body. You just have to find them! Try a variety of things to find something you love; don’t limit yourself. A common activity people do to unwind is yoga. Yoga is great because it offers you a healthy workout and is extremely relaxing. The deep breathing techniques used during yoga are also good for the body. Running, swimming, and cooking are other great activities to try if you want to switch it up occasionally. Even though the year just began stress can come at any time, so make sure you’re mentally prepared and ready for whatever life throws at you.

Put Your Phone Down

As hard as it might seem, try to use your phone less! Don’t miss out on the things happening around you because you’re being consumed by your phone. Listen to your mom as she tells you about her day and your friend as they tell you about the new puppy they got. Enjoy things while they’re happening because you’ll never be able to get that day back! Your Instagram likes and Facebook notifications will still be there when you’re done, don’t worry.

Not only is your phone stopping you from being present in the moment, but it also negatively affects your health. Constantly having your eyes glued to your phone leads to an increased amount of exposure to blue light and can affect how you sleep. How many times have you said you’ll go to bed at a certain time only to get sidetracked by your phone? While the effects are subtle, they still pose a problem, so reducing the amount of screentime you use never hurts.

Prioritize Your Health

Don’t neglect your body! Yes, sometimes you forget breakfast or indulge in a little, or a lot, of take-out but don’t make these habits. Your body is your temple and while that may sound like a cheesy saying — Does it make it any less true? Nope! What you put into your body and how you treat it can greatly affect how you function on a daily basis. We’ve been hearing that we need to eat our fruits and vegetables since we could comprehend words and while we know we should, it doesn’t make it easy. If you’re someone who finds eating healthy hard, look for some online recipes that incorporate fruits and veggies.

In addition to eating right, you should also try to exercise. If you struggle to be more active, then try non-traditional workouts like swimming or yoga or some fun outdoor activities. This might make getting active a little more appealing than working out at a standard gym. Sleep is another important factor when prioritizing your health. No more going to sleep past midnight just to binge-watch a Netflix series. Instead, go to bed at a reasonable time and start your series the next day. Sometimes lack of sleep is from more than just your inability to turn off Netflix. Insomnia, food, stress and a variety of other factors influence sleep. To help, make sure you have a comfortable mattress, a clean room, and that all your devices are shut off.

Do Things You Love

When you’re occupied with other things, it’s easy to forget to do things that you love. Maybe it’s painting or bike riding or gardening. Whatever it is, you should try to make time for it. Why? Because having that time to indulge in what you love is a form of self-care. Despite what some people say, self-care is not selfish. If setting aside some alone time is what you need to function properly on a daily basis, then do it, because sometimes it’s necessary. Some things can just mentally drain people whether it’s work or school or family, so what better way to rejuvenate than by doing something you love. Not only will it make you happy, but it should make your loved ones happy too because instead of having a negative outlook on things, you’ll be a more positive and happy you.

Keep in Touch

We all have those days when it’s just hard; hard to stay motivated, hard to stay passionate, and hard to keep positive. Having a great support system during these times can really turn a bad situation into a good one. As the year begins, make sure to reach out to your loved ones, because it’s important to have people that will uplift and support you in life. It can get difficult to spend time with your friends or family if you’re all really busy, but don’t let that deter you! A quick brunch or a short phone call can be all you need. Also, don’t forget it’s never too late to make new connections! Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and meet new people in the new decade.

New Year New You!

You have control over how your new year will go, so try new things, meet new people, and live the life that you want. As the year begins, test new ways to become the best version of yourself because it’s never too late to start fresh with incorporating some of these mindful practices.