Don’t Make These “healthy” Decisions (and What to Strive for Instead)
Fortunately, 2021 is almost over, and as we look to the bright future that awaits us next year (when all our problems will certainly be solved), it is tempting to make some big decisions that will allow us to move out of 2022 into the better side. Human. It’s a shame that the most common solutions are doomed to begin with.
I am not saying that you should not make plans or set goals . There are plenty of opportunities to work on new and exciting things if you really want to. But please avoid health-related decisions like the following.
Stop eating sugar (or insert “bad” food here)
Avoiding sugar (or caffeine, or certain foods such as desserts or coffee) is something that a person can temporarily do. We all know someone who has given up sugar for a week or a month. But at the end of the day, desserts are a part of life, sugar is not the real devil, and it’s good to have some flexibility in your diet so as not to succumb to unhealthy thoughts and behaviors about food .
Try this instead : The World Health Organization recommends limiting added sugar to 10% of your total calories . If you can do it without a problem, it is said that it is even better to lower your sugar level to 5% of calories. This still gives you plenty of opportunities to eat something sweet here and there, while keeping the overall balance of your diet fairly healthy.
Lose X pounds
Losing weight isn’t necessarily a healthy goal for everyone. Even if you’re doing it for physical health reasons, getting hung up on the numbers on the scale isn’t always good for your mental health. Therefore, if you really want or need to lose weight, you should probably take a smarter approach than just pick a number on the scale and sacrifice everything to achieve that goal.
Try this instead : Think about what will make you healthier, even if you’re not losing weight. Doing 150 minutes a week ? Eat more fiber, vegetables, and protein ? You can do this in conjunction with or instead of your weight loss goals. Thus, you will maintain your health whether you lose the desired weight or not.
Do the exercise you hate
Do you hate to run? Then why did you decide to become a runner ? Do you hate going to the gym? Then why did you decide to go to the gym ? I’m totally in favor of giving things a chance even if you think you’ll hate them , but the emphasis is on trying new things, not on the obligation to suffer from it for an entire year.
Try this instead : is there an exercise you really enjoyed in the past? Maybe you could find a way to do this or find something similar. For example, take a dance class or go hiking. Or, if you really don’t know what you want, try something new every month of the year and see what you like.
Everything that was last year’s resolution
If the same hazard solution has been on your list for years, what makes you think things will be different this year? Yes, I know, I am now a wet blanket for your dreams. But if you weren’t able to get this solution to work last year or the year before, it might not work for you.
Try this instead : What have you learned from your previous attempts? Maybe your solution required perfection; this time, set more realistic goals (for example, “meditate every week” instead of “meditate every day”). Or maybe your decision was too vague. If so, take it piece by piece and make a plan, not a desire.