10 Health and Wellness Tips to Kick-Start 2017

Every start of the year, everyone is buzzing about the saying that goes, “new year, new me.” In fact, it’s almost impossible not to be asked by someone about your personal New Year’s resolutions. Every New Year holds an illusion of a clean slate. Though changes can be done all year round, the beginning of the year brings so much hope and positivity. Make the most out of this glorious energy and strive to make lasting improvements to enrich your life and the lives of the people you love.

As a virtual assistant, you too can make great and small changes that will further develop your personal and professional life. Here are 10 health and wellness tips to kick-start 2017:

• Sleep better.

Getting sufficient rest is so crucial for virtual assistants. This directly affects your performance and productivity. The quality of sleep must also be taken into account. This means 6-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. This could be a challenge for some VAs, but making sleep a priority should definitely be in your New Year agenda. Your body and mind will thank you for it.

• Eat healthier.

Much of what you consume has long-term effects on your body. Working from home can be a reason to avoid fast food and start cooking healthy, personalized, home-cooked meals that would cater to your specific dietary needs. Food items that will give ample energy such as sweet potatoes, brown rice, lean meat and leafy green vegetables should be part of one’s regular diet. If time constraint is an issue, then cook ahead of time so you do not get stressed with all the meal preparations. Place them in the fridge and just reheat. Also, consume fresh fruits and vegetables when you can. These don’t need a lot of prep work. Give eating fresh and raw a go.

• Exercise regularly.

This 2017, maintain a healthy lifestyle by continuing your fitness regimen. If you don’t have one yet, don’t get discouraged. It’s never too late to start. Enroll in a gym or get into sports. For perpetually busy folks, make home exercise videos your friend. There are great workout circuit videos by Jillian Michaels and Shaun T that are good for 30 minutes to an hour. These get you sweating, and they are very effective in keeping the weight off.

• Work smarter.

Planning your day by making a list of tasks in order of importance and urgency will keep things organized. In addition, this will help you avoid procrastination. Make your goal this year centered on producing work efficiently without compromising quality. Get organized and stick to your schedule.

• Spend quality time with loved ones.

Devote your free time to your family and friends. Remember, nurturing relationships out of work creates balance and harmony for your well-being. We all work to have financial security, but it will be of no use if you don’t spend time with the people who matter the most.

• Be one with nature.

Nature has its own way of relaxing the body and the mind. Make time for family excursions that will take you to the beach or the countryside. If this isn’t possible at the moment, then your nearest park will do. The idea is to be exposed to nature’s refreshing and revitalizing elements.

• Start a new hobby.

Strive to be a well-rounded person by learning a new craft. This could be anything from cooking, painting, playing an instrument, doing repairs at home and so on. Get creative and learn something new about yourself. Never stay dull, be adventurous and unleash a side of you that you haven’t tapped.

• Detach from toxicity.

Learn to say goodbye to all your bad habits and vices. Smoking, excessive drinking and even the toxic people around you can harm you and make you professionally unreliable. Know what matters at the end of the day. If it doesn’t make you evolve into a better person, then just let it go.

• Smile more often and have a good mindset.

Your career online might prevent you from interacting with people in real life, but this doesn’t mean that you should just lose your vigor. Smile more often and train your mind to see the good in everything. Life can be hard and cruel, but having the proper mindset will keep you going when it gets tough.

10. Have some form of meditation or prayer.

The act of gratitude can go along away. Practice meditation every day. If you’re into praying then have a moment each day to say a prayer. Online jobs can get very impersonal and hectic. Having some alone time for reflection is always good for the soul.

Now there you have it. Did any of these resonate with you? Let 2017 be your year. More importantly, make every year a good one by doing your part in improving yourself. Much of what happens will also depend on how you act. Good luck and continue living it up!