5 Lifestyle Changes to Make Before 2020

Your lifestyle choices are direct indicators of your quality of life, and typically play a larger factor in your everyday health and mood than your genes. Everyone’s got their set of regular habits, both good and bad, but if you’re looking to make some significant change before 2020 rolls in, today may be the perfect time to reflect on your current lifestyle.

When surveying your regular habits, ask yourself these questions:

• Is this habit good for me?
• How does this habit make me feel?
• Does this habit have any negatives?
• Is this habit worth keeping?

With these questions in mind, you’ll be better prepared to make a pointed effort toward reworking your lifestyle choices and striving toward manifesting the best version of yourself as you enter the new year. In need of some extra inspiration to get the ball rolling? We’ve got you covered with our top 5 lifestyle changes to make before 2020.

1. Exercise regularly

If you’re like most modern people, you spend far too much of your day completely sedentary. Whether it’s behind a desk at your 9-5 job or on a couch in front of a TV, you’ve grown accustomed to sitting for hours on end. Adding a bit of movement to your routine will help revitalize your body, get your blood pumping, and boost your mood all the while.

Get started by:

• Taking a walk on your lunch break
• Setting your alarm 10 minutes earlier to squeeze in morning stretches
• Signing up for group fitness classes
• Taking the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator

2. Take care of your skin

Though skincare may seem like one of the more superficial aspects of your everyday routine, it has a huge impact on the long-term health and appearance of your skin. After all, you only get one body in this life, it works in your favor to care for the skin protecting it. Whether it’s enriching your face with CBD beauty products or doing nightly face masks to cleanse your pores, caring for your skin takes can be done in several different ways.

Get started by:

• Using a daily moisturizer
• Drinking at least 2 liters of water every day
• Washing your pillowcase with every load of laundry
• Finding your perfect SPF and applying it daily

3. Be mindful of your meals

It’s incredibly easy to indulge in all of your favorite snacks and dishes, but it’s important to remember that everything you eat affects your body differently. Just because you’re full doesn’t necessarily mean you’re well-nourished, and there’s a huge difference between leafy greens and processed foods. Being more mindful of your meals will help you take better care of your body—and your body will thank you for it. Make it a goal to cultivate a balanced diet of fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, plant-based proteins, and healthy fats.

Get started by:

• Stocking up on seasonal fruits and vegetables
• Meal prepping 10 servings of fruits and veggies per day
• Swap red meat for fish
• Cut down on saturated fats and processed sugars

4. Get more sleep

When your body doesn’t get enough sleep, it can rebel against you. Ideally, you should be getting 7 to 9 hours per night to keep your mental and physical health in tip-top shape. Making sleep a priority only works to benefit your mind and body’s well-being, so investing in your sleep quality is always worthwhile. Losing out on sleep can lead to increased stress, lower productivity, and short social fuses. Being the best version of yourself means treating yourself to enough sleep every night.

Get started by:

• Setting a nightly bedtime alarm
• Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine consumption
• Eliminating any blue light stimulation before bedtime
• Using a sleep cycle app to measure the longevity and quality of your sleep

5. Make time to manage your stressors

Everybody has stressors—they’re a simple, unavoidable part of life. However, not everybody has a calculated way to manage and deal with their stressors. Stress causes an increase in cortisol levels, which can have a negative impact on your health if they remain high for extended periods of time. Before the new year settles in, take the time to sit down and work through them.

Get started by:

• Meditating for 15 minutes every day
• Finding a creative outlet
• Learning how to express your feelings
• Finding a virtual therapist

How will you illustrate the next chapter of your life? It’s entirely up to you. Take the first step today toward a future that is full of joy, health, and spiritual wealth.