*This article was first published in 76092 Magazine

It’s this time of year that we start to think about how to recharge, renew and reset for the new year ahead. It’s never too late to reset our habits and behaviors and look great in the process. Here are 5 tips on how to kick start your wellness priorities and look great while doing it!

1. Eat more mindfully

Want to fuel a healthy lifestyle? “Make a resolution to eat and drink more mindfully,” says Dr Liz Graves, Chiropractor and Health & Wellness Expert.  “One of the biggest things you can do to help fuel your body is learning how to read the labels and decipher what ingredients are going to be going into your body,” she says. Graves says to focus on selecting fresh and real foods rather than selecting a diet and low-fat options which are often layered in artificial and addictive additives. Graves believes, filling the nutrient gaps in your eating plan with more mindful and clean options will help you achieve more of your weight-loss goals.

2. Get Moving

Check with your health professional first and choose to move, says Natasha Smith, Fitness Instructor and Partner of the Yoga Studio, Southlake. “The decision starts in the mind. You have the power to choose your thoughts, your emotions and your actions,” she says. Smith also says a good idea is to enroll with a friend to check in with you to help you stay accountable in the beginning. Regular exercise can lower the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes – and helps you manage your weight. “Choose to move at whatever capacity you can. Choose to gift yourself what you need to stay healthy through movement, one day at a time,” says Smith.

3. Get organized

“It makes a huge difference if you set goals and are organized for your mental wellbeing and a healthier lifestyle,” says Cindy Butler Carbone, Southlake Health & Life Coach from the Mind, Body & Lifestyle Academy. “Goals are successful when you set small but achievable goals and commit to an intention and also when you educate yourself about the topic.” Having calendars, journals and to-do list organizers are great ways to have a visual reminder to reinforce your goals and keep you motived through the year. “I encourage people to have vision boards to inspire creativity because if you’re inspired to achieve your goals in a positive way you’re more likely to achieve success.”

4. Choose performance gear that makes you feel great

When you work out, everything’s connected. It has to do with the frame of mind, so when you look good in what you’re wearing you also feel good and are more likely to perform well too. “At Athleta, our mission is to ignite a community of active, healthy and confident women and girls who empower each other to reach their limitless potential,” says Logan Stuhldreher, Community Leader at Athleta Southlake. Performance apparel should help you succeed in many areas of your life, not just fitness. Studreher agrees, stating Athleta is more than an apparel company. “We design highly technical yet unapologetically beautiful pieces that help you perform at your peak in all aspects of your life.”

5. Sleep

A good night’s sleep is one of the keys to good health and may also be a key to maintaining a healthy weight. There is a large amount of evidence that suggests people who are sleep deprived have a higher risk of gaining weight than people who get seven to eight hours of sleep a night. According to the Southlake Neurology and Sleep Wellness Clinic, inadequate sleep is now recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke and obesity. Try setting and sticking to a regular pattern at night, power off electronics an hour before going to bed and try listening to peaceful music or reading a book in bed.

Check out my other work published in 76092 HERE.