A look at some personal health goals that are within your reach

With the new year right around the corner, it’s the time of the year when people start thinking more seriously about their health goals.

Some of the most common health goals around this time are connected to losing weight and becoming physically fit in the lead up to the new year. However, holistic health also consists of integrating a greater degree of self-care into one's lifestyle. This includes keeping one's mental health in check and getting enough rest. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle also affects people's ability to achieve all the other goals they may have set for themselves. By consciously taking stock of their health goals, people can become the best version of themselves, and also set up a course for future success in everything they do.

Defining health goals

It is extremely important to set achievable goals when it comes to one's health. These health goals can be considered a blueprint for one's ambitions when it comes to their current and future well-being. By charting out achievable goals and following a plan to achieve them, they are able to balance the physical, mental and holistic aspects of their health journey. This includes:

• Diet and exercise - These are the basic building blocks of a healthier lifestyle. A balanced diet and a consistent exercise regimen can do wonders for one's long-term health and fitness.
• Healthy amounts of weight loss or gain - This is a direct result of following a balanced diet and exercise routine. Consistency is key and will make achieving one's weight goals considerably easier.
• Avoiding a sedentary lifestyle - Once a person has the discipline to exercise, it becomes easier to let go of a sedentary lifestyle.
• Taking breaks from work when necessary - This is important to note for all working professionals. Sometimes, it is better to take a break when needed, instead of forcing oneself to work even when it's not feasible.

Achievable health goals to add to your list

1. Get sufficient sleep

Often, people all over the world feel like 24 hours are not enough to do everything they need to do in a day. However, to be able to utilize this finite amount of time more efficiently, one needs to get at least 7 to 9 hours of rest every night. Maintaining discipline in this simple aspect of one's routine will positively affect all the other areas of one's life. Good sleep habits equal great health outcomes!

2. Control your sweet tooth

Many people crave some dessert after a hearty meal. A plate of vegetables or healthy alternatives just doesn't satisfy these cravings quite the same as a sweet treat. However, these cravings can often lead one down a slippery slope. Following a routine of eating brownies, ice cream or sweets each night can lead to multiple ill effects in the long run.

As an alternative, one can choose sweet treats that offer nutritional value. Natural "desserts" such as fruits like mangoes or strawberries are a viable option. Incorporating reasonably nutrient-rich and healthier desserts into a well-balanced diet is a very effective method of managing one's health and reaching weight goals.

3. Self-care is equally important

Putting oneself first allows a person to take planned breaks from the stresses of daily life. This in turn helps people be more resilient in the face of problems and challenges. Knowing one's boundaries and setting reasonable limits so as to operate at one's optimal capacity can help people be productive in all aspects of life.

Interestingly, research published in the Advances in Experimental Social Psychology journal shows that people who set a clear intention for the implementation of their goal were 200% more likely to achieve their target!

4. Start walking more

You can easily hit the standard goal of 10,000 steps per day, and even go beyond that! Some ways to do this are as follows:

• Park far away from the office or walk there if you can!
• Take a short stroll while on your lunch break.
• Walk up to colleagues to ask them questions instead of messaging them queries.
• Step away from the desk and take a quick walk around the office space at least once per hour.

5. Unplug from digital devices

Putting away the smartphone and laptop at the end of the day is beneficial for one's psychological health and physical health. It can help one develop closer relationships with the people around them through offline interaction. As an additional benefit, unplugging can also help people avoid sedentary habits! One should make a conscious effort to reduce the amount of time they use digital devices and social media on a daily basis.

In closing

It’s crucial to understand that one's health and well-being are the result of a mix of their daily routine and the habits they choose to build. In order to be better in each aspect of one's health, they have to take stock of the "big picture". All the pieces of their daily life fit into the jigsaw puzzle that is holistic health and well-being. Most of the time, improving one aspect of health will have a positive impact on another. This interlinked system of consistent growth and betterment is a sure-shot track to massive improvement through small steps. The health goals mentioned here can act as a good stepping-stone to create health goals that lead to a fulfilling and healthy life. Moreover, having access to a comprehensive health benefits platform can make the process easier too!

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