January 2, 2026
A new year doesn’t have to mean you have to turn your life upside down … unless of course that is what is the best for you!
Not everyone feels the urge to change their life completely every January. For others it is just the motivation that the need to make positive changes. The important thing is that you do what is best for you, especially when it comes to your health.
Take off the pressure of becoming a whole new you, decide on simple and achievable steps that make a difference and you will still be doing come the end of the month, unlike the new gym membership and trainers that are now consigned to the cupboard.
If you are thinking of joining a gym or class, experts suggest that you need to pick one that takes no longer than 15 minutes to get to, that appears to be the magic number to help keep you going there. If that isn’t your thing or you don’t have anywhere close by, an alternative could simply be a daily walk for 30-45 minutes. That is still regular exercise and movement and as we age, movement is so important for the health and flexibility of our joints. A perfect example of if you don’t use it, you will lose it. Keeping mobile not only helps your joints, helps maintain your independence, it also helps mental function and cognition.
Creating simple habits that bring positive changes can be as simple as making sure you drink more water every day.
If walking or increased movement is something you haven’t done for awhile, it is worth thinking of how supplements can support you. Fish oils are a good source of essential fatty acids that have been shown to support joint health, as are warming herbs such as turmeric and its active principle, curcumin are also useful.
During the colder months it can be hard to eat a wide variety of fruit and veg when all you really want is something warming and filling, The good news is that you can have all the goodness of fresh vegetables in soups and tray bakes. Soups are especially good when you want to clear the fridge out and use up those slightly tired veg lurking there. Using garlic, spices and herbs and a simple stock can give you a warming, nutritious and economical. Cook up a batch and help with meal prep too.
A quick search online will give you plenty of ideas for easy recipes to improve the nutrient content of your diet. Start with soup ideas or healthy breakfasts.
Add fruit to a bowl of porridge for a comforting, filling and nutritious breakfast. Oats have soluble and insoluble fibre, research has shown that oat fibre is useful in helping to maintain a healthy cholesterol level. If you are not a fan of hot breakfasts, then consider overnight oats, all the benefits of porridge with the added bonus of being prepared the night before so breakfast is ready for your morning.
A quick search online will give you plenty of ideas for easy recipes to improve the nutrient content of your diet. Start with soup ideas or healthy breakfasts.
It is hard to ignore New Year fever but you can use it to your advantage as a gently nudge rather than forcing a complete overhaul. Why not introduce one or two new habits or bring back some that may have slowly vanished from your regime. Consider them non-negotiables, something that you commit to doing every day. You can even track your progress using a simple tick chart or one of the many freely available habit tracker downloads available.
Start with something that you know you can achieve, that isn’t cheating, it is getting you into a new habit and building consistency. It could be committing to drinking more water every day. Be aware of how much you are currently drinking, aim for 4-6 glasses a day. You are likely to feel a difference in a relatively short space of time. Anything from clearer skin, more energy and even a clearer mind. If you have trouble remembering to drink, set an alarm on your phone to remind you.
If another non-negotiable is to revamp your supplement regime or even start taking supplements, one of your glasses a day could be drunk when taking your supplements. That is two ticks straight away.
What might you take as a supplement? What is your diet and lifestyle like? Do you already take supplements? Maybe they need a bit of a review.
Start simple, a good multivitamin and mineral is a great way to give you a range of nutrients in on go. Look for products that have a wide spectrum of nutrients in forms that the body can easily absorb. Ideally take at breakfast time. If you don’t find it easy to get in the habit of taking supplements, place them by the kettle. You probably remember to have a cup of tea or coffee every morning, make it work as simple reminder for you.
In addition to a multi nutrient, you might want to look further and see what else you can add. You will have seen plenty of talk in the media about gut health and the gut microbiome. The collection of good bacteria we have in a healthy digestive system that not only support digestion and the digestive system but also play a role in the immune system and even our moods. You can find a lot of beneficial bacteria in fermented foods such as yoghurt, kefir and kimchi and if you don’t frequently eat those foods, a supplement can be useful.
During winter months and sometimes after an over indulgent festive season, you might find your skin doesn’t look as bright as it could. One advantage of keep hydrated is better skin condition, you might also want to do a gentle detox to rest the system, think fresh fruit and veg, herbal teas and reducing refined sugars and ultra processed foods. Dry skin can be supported with vitamin E and essential fatty acids too. Including healthy fats in your diet is also a good idea, avocado, cold pressed olive oil, seeds and nuts, can all help boost your nutrient intake.
Make this year the year that you look after yourself in the way that works the best for you and not what the media tells you that you should do.
So as we head into the new year, look for positive and achievable changes that will give you results and prove to yourself that you can be consistent and stick to a regime. You don’t have to take on a marathon go to the gym every day … unless of course, that is what you want to do. Let’s make 2026 the year of looking after yourself and keeping yourself well in the best way for you, rather than stressing about what everyone else is doing.
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