It’s a new year, a new decade and it’s time to consider what you want for yourself in 2020. Below you will find five ways to make 2020 your best year yet and make yourself a priority!

Make YOU a Priority!

Let’s face it - most of us have a hard time making ourselves a priority. There is always something or someone that needs our attention, causing us to forget to take care of ourselves. Here are some suggestions to help make yourself a priority:

Create Non-Negotiable Rules

Incorporate items into your daily routine. After a few weeks, they should become second nature to you! Suggestions:

• Having a healthy breakfast before heading out for the day.
• Turning off the phone during meals.
• Plan time for yoga/meditation.
• Saying Yes to Often? Step back for a moment before you let the “Y” word out of your mouth. Consider taking back control of your decisions. You’ll find yourself feeling much happier.
• Add things to this list that will allow you to make time for yourself.

Nourish YOU! Eat Yummy Things!

Food is our fuel. It’s what makes our bodies tick, allowing us to have enough energy to get through our day. Our energy comes from protein, fats and yes, carbohydrates! Did you know that carbohydrates fuel your brain? We all need a healthy balance of nutrients to live our best life possible. Suggestions:

• Cook with mindfulness; notice your senses when preparing food. How does it smell? Look? Taste? How does it make you feel?
• Don’t forget to snack! Our bodies need that fuel. Going long hours without eating triggers our bodies into thinking it’s in starvation mode.
• Try foods from other cultures. Find new tastes, textures and flavors!
• Enjoy your food; go on a picnic, sit outside your office at lunch time, invite a friend to dine with you or sit and quietly savor the taste of what you are eating rather than gulping it down in a hurry.

Feed Your Brain and Soul!

How can you feed your brain and soul? We know that brain power comes from eating a well-balanced diet, but what about non-food ways to feed your brain and soul? This is almost as important as our daily food intake. Suggestions:

• Holding Still – Stop for a moment and allow yourself to just be. Focus on your breathing or a few words that have meaning to you. Be still and listen to yourself.
• Be aware of those times when you need to talk to a professional, to a friend, to a clergyperson. Be open to sharing your thoughts and feelings. This can help clear unnecessary clutter from your brain.
• Look for the mind-body-spirit connection. Our bodies and our spirits are intertwined, meaning if one is off, the other is probably off too. Not only will fueling your body properly help but also try adding some daily meditation into your life. Your emotions, mind and spirit may greatly improve.

Sleep! It’s not overrated!

Yes, you heard it here - sleep is not overrated! Sleep is the time when our body heals, our muscles rejuvenate, and our brain gets some much needed time off. Getting enough sleep helps our learning and memory, our mood, our cardiovascular health, and even our weight. Not enough sleep is not doing you any good! Suggestions:

• Create a bedtime routine - whatever works best for you, create it and stick to it.
• Shut off your screens (TV, computer, phone) at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Give your brain an opportunity to quiet down.
• Forgo that last cup of caffeine (even decaf) - it’s a stimulant.
• Wear socks to bed! Yep, keeping those tootsies warm helps you sleep better!
• Try to set a consistent sleep schedule, allowing your body to set its internal clock.

And Finally, Community!

Being part of something bigger than ourselves allows us the opportunity to grow, learn, and share. Community is important in helping establish togetherness, cooperation and support. Knowing how to give to your community and knowing when you need from your community helps us throughout our lives. Suggestions:

• Join a community - whatever that looks like to you. Maybe a church or a synagogue, a political group, a self-awareness forum, a parent’s group - join something that will allow you to give and receive.
• Be available when someone in your community suffers a loss or is struggling. Be willing to give of yourself.
• Be aware when you have needs that can be met by reaching out to your community. There are usually others who are ready and able to help you.
• Community contains a sense of encouragement and well-being. Join something that will make your life fuller.

Call I Live Well today and schedule an appointment with one of our registered dietitians and we can help you make your 2020 a priority for you! Follow us on Instagram to learn more healthy lifestyle tips!