With a new year comes a chance to reflect on and learn from the past.We analyze what worked well, what did not work well, and what we hope to happen next. In the coming year, most of us hope to be healthier, kinder, more active, and more open to love. One thing we forget to do from time to time, buried in all the new-year-new-you resolutions, is to take care of our mental and physical health first.

We've compiled the best New Year's health tips, those that do not focus on weight loss or significant-other goals but on your overall well-being. Each of them helps your mind, body, and soul in different ways so that you feel better in 2022 (healthier, more active, and stimulated).

1. Practice mindful eating

Mindful eating does not mean going on a strict diet or avoiding eating your favorite foods. Instead, mindful eating is about bringing more awareness and enjoyment to the foods you eat. Eat foods you enjoy but do so while savoring the taste, texture, and characteristics of the food. Eat that homemade cookie if you're craving it. But also be aware if you’re mindlessly about to finish that whole ice cream jar.

Try to replace some of your favorite guilty pleasures with healthier alternatives.  If you are eating a food that’s higher in unhealthy ingredients, find ways to boost its nutritional profile, perhaps add a side of fruit, veggies, protein, or some fiber-rich whole grains. You can get tons of essential nutrients from food that support your brain function, manage stress, and just generally make you feel happier. An improved diet can help you make the easy, attainable shift you've been searching for.

2. Schedule time for self-care

Why not make your New Year's resolution something fun? There is a tendency in our society to place a lot of value on being busy and not enough on engaging in leisure activities. It is true that work is a necessary part of life, but our bodies and mental health are not meant to never take a break from it. Set aside some time for your favorite self-care activities. This could be getting a manicure, scheduling a massage, or even just watching your favorite movie (without interruptions). Choose anything that allows you to relax and decompress. 

3. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

It's a fact: Drinking plenty of water should become a habit. Nevertheless, paying attention to your hydration levels can also help you achieve balance in your nutrition.

Staying hydrated is also necessary for detoxification, so even if you have a cheat day and indulge in sugar, booze, and other treats, your body will still be able to regulate itself.

4. Prioritize movement

You don’t have to commit to a large-scale fitness routine to get your body moving.The most effective form of movement is the one that you're going to continue to do. Perhaps, start by adding a 10 min walk to your afternoon work break. As you move, your body will naturally release endorphins, which improves mood, relieves stress and increases energy level. 

All kinds of exercise can be beneficial in the winter season, but the twisting that happens during a yoga session can really help remove those toxins from your system! (Sweating doesn’t hurt, either.)

5. Accept Imperfection

It can be hard and disheartening if your New Year resolutions don’t go as planned or are less than perfect from what you had imagined. Start the new year by learning to accept imperfection. Be able to let things go as they may. It's fine if it's not perfect. Imperfection is healthy and normal. 

There's always tomorrow to start over. If you ate a burger while you were on your weight loss diet, do not get discouraged and think that your efforts were for naught. Don’t beat yourself up for seemingly ruining your whole week, month or year. Give yourself permission to catch a break, push aside the “bad day” guilt and then get right back on track with your goals the next day. 

Don’t get upset with yourself when you cannot find the energy or motivation to complete your daily to-do list. Something is always better than nothing and achieving even just one thing on your list is still a win and a step closer to your goal. 

Do not chase perfection; instead, strive for progress. You might be focused on the end goal, but ultimately the most important part of learning or doing anything is the journey to get there. Take the time to recognize yourself for making progress and allow yourself to learn from it. In the long run, focusing on what you can learn will benefit you rather than aiming for one perfect performance. 

6. Rethink Your Resolutions

Traditional New Year's resolutions can put you at risk of failure. If you want to better yourself in the New Year, follow these tips for success:

Take baby steps. Over the course of the year, break up your goal into smaller steps. You don't have to lose weight in a drastic way if you're aiming for weight loss. Start increasing the amount of vegetables you consume in your diet during your first month and gradually cut back on sweets throughout the following months.

Treat yourself with kindness. Do not hold yourself accountable for not accomplishing last year's resolutions or straying off the path this year. "When we tell ourselves things like 'I can't quit smoking!', we not only feel worse about ourselves but also fuel a negative attitude towards improvement. Instead, find your motivation again without feeling guilty or ashamed.