With the new year almost upon us, now’s the time to start setting productive goals and aspirations for 2022! One big aim that many people are hoping to commit to is a reduction of bad habits, as regularly indulging in self destructive and unhealthy behavior does nothing to benefit your mind and body. Breaking free from the cycle of bad habits doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might expect, as there are in fact just a few simple steps that you can follow to wave goodbye to your woes in no time at all! So, if you’re interested in finding out more, then read on to uncover a variety of tips and tricks that you can utilize today.
Junk Food
Changing your diet is often one of the most difficult steps to take, as a combination of poor willpower and addictive ingredients can wreak havoc for those attempting to cut out junk food. Junk food can include anything that’s ‘ultra-processed’, meaning something that contains more than 5 ingredients. A huge percentage of food available in grocery stores is junk food, and most are filled with artificial colors, unnatural flavors and chemical preservatives that can cause a number of problems for your physical and mental health. Fat, sugar and salt are also common amongst junk foods, and excessive consumption of these ingredients can lead to weight gain, diabetes, high cholesterol and worse.
Kicking junk food to the curb may be tough, but it’s totally worth it – you’ll feel stronger in both your mind and body, and experience a whole host of different benefits as a result of your hard work. Switching to a wholefoods diet is the best way to go, but it’s easier to begin by making more basic food swaps so as not to shock your system. Change your usual chocolate hit for some fresh fruit and Greek yogurt, and substitute chips for raw unsalted nuts for a protein hit. Make an increased effort to cook homemade meals so that you can stay in control of what you eat, and try out healthier versions of your favorite recipes so that you can still indulge but without the guilt. Once you realize that healthy food can taste amazing, it will be so much easier to break free from your junk food dependency.
Alcohol
The festive season is often the worst period for excessive drinking, as far too many people feel the need to ‘treat’ themselves to an extra tipple (or 3) in celebration. Drinking alcohol in small quantities won’t do much harm, but choosing to regularly overindulge by mixing beer, wine and spirits more than twice per week will no doubt begin to affect your physical and mental well-being.
Having periods of heavy binge drinking or drinking every day without fail are signs of an alcohol dependency, which means that it may be more difficult for you to break free from its grips. However, it’s always possible to gain back control over your drinking habits when you take the time to implement the right steps, and you certainly don’t have to battle through such a life change on your own.
Many sites like https://www.sunshinebehavioralhealth.com/treatment/oceanfront-rehab/ detail locations that exist to act as a support network for those who are aiming to lead a sober lifestyle, and being surrounded by people who have the say motivations as you can be so inspiring too. Attempting to hang around with your usual clique of bar-goers might not be the best idea, as it’s best to try and avoid temptation when breaking free from such a habit. Ask your friends to hit different spots other thank drinking holes, like heading to the park for a picnic or going to the cinema to watch a movie instead – finding alternative hobbies that keep you occupied will allow you to think less about alcohol. When attending party’s and other events that are usually focused around drinking, opt for ‘mocktails’ or alcohol free beverages instead. This way you’ll still blend in with the crowd and you won’t feel left out.
Breaking free from your bad habits in 2022 has never been a more achievable goal when you can take the time to utilize some of the tried and tested advice and guidance detailed above. Whether you want to wave goodbye to junk food or kick alcohol to the curb, there’s no time like the presento to start taking better care of yourself both mentally and physically. So, what are you waiting for?