This post is sponsored by the New Year Savings promotion at Publix. All thoughts and text are my own.
As I make my way into 2022, I am focusing on sticking with (and improving) the healthy habits that are already a part of my regular routine instead of trying to identify things I need to change or creating brand new habits. This works best for me right now for three reasons:
- As someone who already tends to put too much on my plate and regularly overestimates how much I can accomplish in a set period, the last thing I need is more things to do.
- It’s easy for me to go down the anxiety spiral and thinking about the things I might be doing “wrong” or ways that I might be “bad” are surefire ways to enter the spiral.
- We all know how difficult it can be to establish a new habit or routine, so why not put the emphasis on what is already working?
I have spent time reflecting on the habits and routines that make the MOST positive impact on my daily life. I am examining ways that I can further nurture these habits and routines and asking myself how I can make them work even more powerfully for me.
Here are seven healthy habits that I plan to keep in 2022. They are all simple but if there’s one thing I’ve learned about living a healthy lifestyle, it’s that simple and attainable habits and routines are the most sustainable.
1. TAKING DAILY VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS.
I take a small number of daily vitamins and supplements. Some of them I take year-round and some are seasonal or to address a specific short-term focus.
Here’s my current supplement regimen:
- Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin and Nails with Biotin, Antioxidants C and E and Hyaluronic Acid
- Nature’s Bounty Fish Oil
- Nature’s Bounty Vitamin D3
- C and Zinc Immune Support Combo
- Collagen powder or capsules
And Finn gets a multi every day! He’s currently taking this Kids Multi + Probiotic from OLLY Vitamins.
Keeping my supplements in the cabinet above my coffee maker where I store my coffee, tea and mugs help to make it a seamless part of my morning routine.
I was able to stock up on the vitamins and supplements that I love at Publix and because I used the New Year Savings flyer, I was able to save money on many of my favorite items! During the New Year Savings promotion at Publix, you can get $3 off any one Nature’s Bounty item and $3 off any OLLY Vitamin or supplement (in addition to many other great sales!).
2. WALKING OR GETTING OUTSIDE EVERY DAY, NO MATTER WHAT.
One of the most impactful things that I do for my physical and mental wellbeing is to get outside and get some fresh air or go on a walk…every single day, no matter what. I’ve written posts in the past about the benefits of spending time in nature and I’ve spoken at length about my love for walking, but I honestly cannot stress these two things enough.
Some days it might be sitting in a chair on my back patio in the sun with a book or my laptop. Sometimes it’s running around at the park with Finn. Oftentimes it’s a walk with the dogs or a friend. I always experience a noticeable shift in my energy and headspace after getting some fresh air.
3. KEEPING OPTIONS FOR EASY, HEALTHY MEALS ON HAND.
Y’all know that I’m adept at whipping up some sort of healthy bowl from the contents of my fridge, freezer, and pantry. This is doable because I always keep them stocked with staples for easy meal prep. I heavily rely on things like frozen proteins, dried grains and pasta, salad and veggie kits, and various condiments.
Thanks to the New Year Savings flyer at Publix, I learned that Eat Smart Cooking Kits were on sale for $1.50 off so I tried the Teriyaki Stir Fry Veggie Kit. I’m so glad that I did because it made for an awesome, easy, and healthy 10-minute dinner. I added some shrimp that I pulled out of the freezer for an easy protein.
4. HONORING SLEEP AND PRIORITIZING 8-9 HOURS PER NIGHT.
There were many years of my life where I prided myself on “only needing 5-6 hours of sleep.” Well friends, those days are over. My relationship with sleep has changed so much since becoming a parent and I absolutely love and adore the 8-9 hours of sleep that I aim to get every night. The amount that I miss 5:30am training clients and 6am yoga classes is zero. I still go to bed around the same time – 10:30 or 11pm, but these days, I sleep until I wake up naturally which is almost always right around 7:15-7:30am. It is glorious to wake up without an alarm.
That said, I’ve mentioned before that I get in cycles where I struggle with staying asleep so when that happens, I take a low dose of melatonin before bed. I picked up this Nature’s Bounty Quick Dissolve Melatonin at Publix. Three milligrams 30 minutes before bed is just right to help me relax and have a restful night of sleep.
5. HAVING MY WATER BOTTLE WITHIN ARM’S REACH AT ALL TIMES.
I am seriously attached to my water bottle and when I say that it’s within arm’s reach at all times, I mean it. While I drink coffee, tea, seltzer water, and the occasional glass of wine, I drink more water than anything. I feel so good when I am well-hydrated, and I swear it helps me with workout recovery, gut health, and energy levels.
6. STICKING TO A CYCLE OF WELL-BALANCED, INTUITIVE MOVEMENT.
In 2022, I plan to stick to balanced and intuitive movement that includes a mix of running, walking, strength training, and yoga. While I am currently focusing more on lifting than anything else, I won’t do it at the expense of the other elements. I truly feel that a blend of all these things helps me to feel my best physically while also avoiding injury and burnout.
I generally aim to lift 2-3 times a week, run 2-3 times a week, get a few short yoga sessions in (not necessarily a full class, maybe just 15-20 minutes at home) and walk as much as I can. I try to listen to my body and if on a particular day I had planned to run but a lift sounds better, I will usually swap out workouts. Also, there are many days I wish I could get to the gym to lift but it can’t happen from a time or childcare perspective, so I stay flexible with the overall schedule and don’t stress too much. It really helps to keep workouts fun and enjoyable.
7. MAKING AN EFFORT TO CONNECT WITH FRIENDS.
I had to add the qualifier of “making an effort” to “connect with friends” because while I appreciate and value the many positive impacts that spending time with friends has for me, I have a tendency not to do it if left to my own devices. I think it’s important to be truthful with ourselves when it comes to the ways that we sabotage our own health and wellbeing and this is one I have really worked on (but still have a ways to go!).
Things that work for me are having standing dates. For me, that might look like running with a certain friend at the same time every week. I also have dinner with two other friends every two to three weeks on the same night and we’ve all made a pact to try not to cancel if possible. I’ve also really come to enjoy walking dates to catch up with friends. I find it more comfortable than just sitting in a coffee shop and I get the bonus of the fresh air and movement with the connection.
SHOP THE NEW YEARS SAVINGS PROMOTION AT PUBLIX
You can save over $60 through the New Year Savings promotion at Publix. Pick up the in-store coupon flyer or visit getthesavings.com/new-year-savings to access print-at-home coupons and view other offers that are available.
In addition to what I’ve highlighted in this post, you can also save on things like Jimmy Dean Simple Scrambles, TENA Pads, cold medicine, Emergen-C, ChapStick, Sensodyne, fiber supplements, and much more!
QUESTIONS
What healthy habits and routines do you already have that you’d like to focus on in 2022?
Which healthy habits and routines do you have to put the most effort towards?
Do you have any go-to food kits, salad kits, shortcuts, etc that you keep on hand for fast and healthy meals?
What supplements are you currently taking?
