2023 Jan Newsletter

In need of a reboot this New Year? Forget the trendy detoxes and cleanses. Instead, consider these simple, sustainable steps.

Reset your sleep schedule

If you ate, drank, and were generally merry during the holidays, you probably also skimped on sleep. Sleep deprivation can place your hormones out of sync, making you more likely to overeat, and elevate cortisol, causing anxiety. The recommendation is that adults get seven to nine hours of sleep each night.  This is a good place to start rebooting.

Think more, not less

Our minds tend to resist the idea of giving things up and get frustrated at our inability to stick to healthy diets. Instead, think of your New Year “detox” as enriching your life with better nutritional choices. Add more fruit and vegetables, as well as fermented products like plain yoghurt to support gut health, instead of processed foods, refined sugar, and preservatives.

Move more

Are you intimidated by the thought of formal exercise? Don’t feel like you must wear skimpy workout clothes, take out an expensive gym membership, or register for iron man. Dance around wildly to your favourite upbeat song daily, spend time working in the garden, or play soccer with the kids. It all counts as exercise.

Moderate alcohol

If you’ve overdone the booze during the holiday, it’s time to re-evaluate for the sake of your liver, sleep, hormones, and overall health. Guidelines suggest limiting yourself to one drink a day (or two if you’re male). Instead, drink 6-8 glasses of water daily to keep your thirst at bay and create exotic non-alcoholic cocktails as treats, especially if you’re aiming for a “dry January.”

Detox your home

Look around your home and remove any unwanted clutter. There are people or organisations who would love to have these items, and you may be surprised at how much lighter and more energetic you’ll feel.

Detox your thoughts

Get creative in 2023 and replace negative thoughts with more positive thoughts for a happier life. For example, instead of “I’ll never manage,” say, “I am open to learning new things, I’ve got this.” Make it a habit to catch and replace stinking thinking and observe the benefits over time.

Connect with a therapist or dietician at LifeAssist, who can assist you, or a family member, with your detox plan, at no cost to you.