25 Easy, Healthy New Year's Resolutions You'll Actually Be Able to Keep

Do you struggle with New Year’s resolutions? Many resolutions are either too vague or too ambitious to reach. If your goal is to live healthier, your resolution doesn’t have to be complicated. You can lead a happier and healthier lifestyle without a lot of extra effort.

Here are 25 easy-to-adopt habits to try out in the New Year:

Bring lunch a few times a week

Making your own lunch is healthier and more economical than buying it every day. Be creative and take leftovers or make a large salad to portion out for the week.

Add in some fruits and vegetables

Add in brightly colored veggies and fruits to every meal, including breakfast. You’ll boost your vitamins and anti-oxidants and increase your fiber intake.

Eat a healthy breakfast

Eating breakfast can prevent you from overeating later in the day. Making a healthy choice also sets the tone for the rest of the day. If you need grab and go ideas, check out Quick and Healthy Breakfast Ideas for People “On The Go.”

Drink more water

Making water your beverage of choice keeps you hydrated and cuts out unnecessary calories. Make your water more appealing by adding in a few slices of fruit or herbs, such as basil or mint.

Go vegetarian once a week

Make one day a vegetarian one. You’ll cut back on saturated fat and choose more heart healthy plant based proteins, such as beans, quinoa, or nuts.

Pack your snacks

Plan for hunger pangs that occur in-between meal times by having healthy snacks on hand in your desk or bag. Portion out single servings of nuts, crispy chickpeas, and whole grain crackers into baggies or small containers. Our Precision Digital Kitchen Scale, with its recessed platform, makes this an easy task. The tare button allows you to zero out the weight of the container so you can quickly measure serving sizes without performing mathematical calculations.

Get some fresh air

Spend a few minutes outdoors every day. Take your dog for a brisk walk or run some of your errands on foot. Being outside even for 10 -15 minutes can boost your mood.

Switch to whole grains

Choose 100% whole grain bread, brown rice, bulgur, farro, oats, and other whole grains. You’ll add in vitamins, fiber, and whole grains help lower cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease.

Get 10 minutes of exercise

At the minimum, get at least 10 minutes of movement every day. It will help lower your blood pressure and keep you consistent with your fitness commitment.

Stretch every morning

Your body has been at rest for several hours and stretching helps decrease aches, pains, and gets blood flowing throughout the body. Stretching in the morning also helps reduced feelings of tiredness and lethargy throughout the day.

Learn a new healthy recipe

Learn one or two new recipes every month. You’ll keep your meals interesting, and you just may discover some new favorites. We have a lot of options on our blog.

Make time for friends

Spending time with people you enjoy improves your overall well-being. Friendships offer support, boost confidence, increase your sense of belonging, and help reduce stress. All of which have a positive impact on your health.

Try a new workout

Once a month, switch up your workout and try a new class or activity. You’ll help prevent boredom and work your muscles in a different way.

Grab heavier weights

If your strength routine isn’t challenging and the reps feel pretty easy, you need to go heavier. Challenge your muscles by adding a few extra pounds and notice the muscle definition increase!

Sample a new vegetable or fruit

At least once per month, taste a new to you vegetable or fruit. Check out the seasonal offerings in your local farmers market or grocery store. The more options you have, the healthier your diet will become.

Cut back on processed foods

Processed foods have little nutritional value in them and are often high in sugars and fat. Instead, shop the perimeter of the grocery store and choose whole foods.

Weigh yourself

Weighing yourself regularly is a good idea whether you are trying to lose weight or want to ensure that pounds don’t start creeping up. For consistency, weigh yourself at the same time of day on a daily or weekly basis. Our Precision CalPal Digital Bathroom Scale allows users to quickly and easily measure weight, their BMI, and estimates the number of calories needed to be consumed per day to maintain their current weight. It takes the guesswork out of calorie counting and this estimation can help with a weight loss, gain or maintenance plan.

Exercise in the morning

Most people tend to stick with their routine when they exercise first thing in the morning. You don’t have to worry about getting out of work late and skipping the gym, and there are no social obligations in the morning hours. We have some tips to create a morning fitness routine that really work.

Grow your own herbs

You don’t need a garden to grow your own herbs. A few containers on your windowsill works just fine. Fresh herbs ramp up the flavor of your foods without adding any extra calories.

Add on a few minutes to your workout

Do you already exercise regularly? Add on another 5 – 10 minutes to your routine each month. It’s not a huge increase and it will torch extra calories.

Choose fruit for dessert

Skip the cake and opt for fruit for dessert. Choose seasonal varieties for the most flavorful options. You could also puree frozen fruit for a natural ice cream substitute.

Go low carb at one meal

Have you hit a weight loss plateau? Choose vegetables and a protein for one meal per day to kick start your weight loss journey back into high gear.

Master portion sizes

A few extra ounces here and there add up to a lot of extra calories throughout the day. Measuring proper portion sizes is an easy way to keep servings in control and get rid of excess weight. Our Precision Pro Digital Kitchen Scale is accurate, precise to .05 ounce / 1 gram increments, and perfect for calorie or carbohydrate counting. The scale includes a FREE EatSmart Calorie Factors book for easy calorie counting.

Start a bed time ritual

Taking time to wind down and relax before bed can help you fall asleep easier. Creating a ritual signals your brain that it’s time to slow down and get ready for sleep.

Grab mints or gum to prevent snacking

A fresh minty mouth deters snacking. If you can’t brush your teeth, grab sugarless mints or gum to give your mouth that clean fresh feeling.

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What habits do you want to incorporate for 2018? Tweet them to us at @eatsmartscales. You may also enjoy reading 9 Simple Things To Do To Prepare For a Healthy and Happy New Year.