New Year time… Time for New Year resolutions. I have been making my resolutions for years, probably like most of us. But, I have to admit, I usually failed badly as the year went on… So, some time ago, I decided to stick to the resolutions which are realistic and achievable. Here they are for 2020!
Be active
It is never too late to be active or even to start being active. And we can help you achieve it by looking after your joints and spine. Even if you never exercised in your life, if you start now, when you are in your 50s, 60s, 70s, you will benefit from it. It has been proven that being active improves not only your physical but mental health as well. And remember, nobody expects you to run marathons (unless you want to…). Physical activity, even very moderate, affects your heart, improves blood pressure, burns fat… There are studies showing the positive effect of exercising on diabetes and even cancers. If you were offered a magic pill which made you happier, healthier, live longer, would you take it? Of course, you would… So here is your magic pill: physical activity. Extra bonus: it is free and no known side effects! Let’s make 2020 a Year of a Magic Pill!
Eat well but not too well
I am not going to write about various magic diets here. But let me say one thing about diets: when you take away all the “philosophy” around this or that diet, when you start reading between the lines, you will realise one fundamental thing: ALL diets are in fact about eating less… Let’s take one example: your diet does not allow you to eat proteins and carbs at the same time. So you can have a steak with vegetables but no potatoes or rice is allowed at the same time. What does it mean in practice? Will eat your potatoes separately two hours later?? Most likely not. So effectively you eat less. If you do intermittent fasting and you are allowed to eat in an eight hours window, it is unlikely that you will manage to squeeze three or four meals in that timeframe. So you eat less… I have been doing intermittent fasting for two years. And I eat two meals a day. And you know what? I want them to be really good and I want to enjoy them because they are sparse! So, resolution number two: eat less but enjoy it more!
Laugh more
Good laugh is therapeutic. I know, it is not easy to laugh these days with so much going on out there. But I will tell you what I do: I have subscribed to a few stand up comedy channels on YouTube and try and watch 10-15 minutes each evening before I go to bed. I finish my day laughing. I don’t know if there is any science behind it, and frankly I don’t care. I simply feel better! So, let’s laugh in 2020! (ZK)