Start the new year off right by following these 10 tips to help you kick your bad habits to the curb, saying goodbye to them for good.
Making daily changes no matter how small will bring excellent results, especially if you have resolved to stop these bad habits this year.
Bad Habit #1. Biting your nails
Biting your nails is a sure-fire way to get a daily dose of germs.
Fingernails, if not properly cleaned and maintained harbor bacteria that can lead to a variety of illnesses, including pneumonia and urinary tract infections.
The fix: A great way to stop biting your nails is to have a set of acrylic nails put on.
It’s one way to discourage your nibbling tendancies, and a great way to boost your self-esteem because you won’t have to hide your hands.
Bad Habit #2. Eating full-fat dairy
Full fat dairy products clog your arteries with saturated fat and according to scientific studies may increase your risk of serious illness.
The fix: Swap to low-fat products for your required 3 serves a day.
A 250ml serve of low-fat milk can contain as little as 0.25g of fat, only 0.16g of which is saturated fat whereas a glass of full cream milk provides around 10g of fat, of which 6g is saturated fat.
Bad Habit #3. Forgetting to floss
Dentists recommend flossing once a day to remove plaque between the teeth.
The fix: Make it a bedtime habit before you brush your teeth – that way you will loosen any food waste before you do your final brushing for the day.
Bad Habit #4. Not wearing sunscreen
Yes, you’ve all seen the tv commercials telling us to Slip-Slop-Slap and for good reason.
Applying sunscreen daily whether its sunny or not slows the onset of sun spots that are linked to the development of skin cancer.
The fix: Apply your sunscreen under your makeup first thing in the morning by making it part of your morning skincare/makeup ritual.
I personally use La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid Facial Sunscreen SPF 50+
This sunscreen has a high SPF of 50+ with both UVA/UVB protection. It’s very fluid and not sticky so its an excellent choice to wear under your foundation.
Bad Habit #5. Skipping Breakfast & Lunch
You wouldn’t drive your car around on an empty tank so why are you skipping meals.
Not eating anything until dinner on a regular basis will start your day with poor concentration and have less energy throughout the day.
Skipping meals regularly will create a sluggish metabolism and cause you to overeat at dinnertime because you are so hungry.
The fix: If you are like most who can’t stomach a huge meal first thing try making yourself a smoothie or green juice.
But if you just can’t stomach anything to eat first thing make sure when you do finally eat mid-morning that it contains wholegrains as they are an important source of nutrients.
People who eat wholegrains as part of a healthy diet have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases. Research shows that men who skip breakfast are 27% more likely to get coronary heart disease.
Bad Habit #6. Not eating fruit on a daily basis
If you aren’t eating enough fresh fruit (at least 2 serves a day) you are missing out on a great source of fibre, essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help protect against disease.
The fix: Snacking on fruit mid-morning or mid-afternoon is the easiest way to introduce fruit into your diet but you can also add them to your breakfast cereal, add fruit to savory salads, grate apple or pear into your breakfast pancakes or freeze fruit for an icy snack during the summer months.
Bad Habit #7. Wearing high heels
Sure they make our legs look AMAZING! but is the health of your feet worth the sacrifice?
According to a study from Harvard University, high-heel wearers are more likely to develop bone deformities, tendonitis and other problems with their feet in later years.
The fix: The best option is to limit how often you wear your heels.
When you need to walk long distances make sure you have a pair of sneakers or flat shoes handy.
Also wear shoes with a soft leather rather than synthetic upper to allow your feet more movement as you walk.
Bad Habit #8 Poking cotton buds in your ears
Apart from pushing wax further into the ear, you run the risk of perforating your eardrum.
The fix: If your ears feel clogged up with hardened wax, add a few drops of cooking oil into the ear, plug with a cotton ball and wait for 15 minutes for it to soften and then use a wax dissolving solution which can be purchased from your local chemist.
Bad Habit #9. Talking on the mobile whilst driving
Talking on your phone whilst driving is dangerous! Think of killing some innocent person!
According to research from the University of Utah driving while talking on the phone is more dangerous than drink driving because your ability to process visual information whilst chatting on the phone decreases by 50%.
The fix: If you find you simply can’t leave your phone alone, put your handbag and phone in the boot of your car until you reach your destination, so you won’t be tempted to answer it.
Bad Habit #10. Not drinking enough water.
Water is essential for most of the body’s normal functions, including the removal of waste products.
Not drinking enough water can cause headaches, lack of energy, feeling listlessness and even more serious, dehydration.
The fix: You should be rehydrating with at least 8 glasses of water a day (minimum), more in the hot weather.
I use and highly recommend an app called Water Your Body. It is an excellent way of keeping track of your water intake.
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