This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Evolution Fresh®. All opinions are 100% mine.
The new year is in full swing, and I’m so pumped for what’s to come! I’ve been making lists of all the things I want to accomplish this year, and while traveling more and finishing off my junior year strong are some big goals, taking better care of myself is at the top. I feel like wellness resolutions are often looked over for more flashy ones, but they can have such a huge impact on your year! If more energy, more productivity, or more mindfulness sounds like something you’re down for, then these resolutions will put you on the right track.
Swap Out Processed Foods For Homemade Versions
Despite how tasty they are, processed foods really shouldn’t be a part of any person’s diet. They lack the nutrients your body craves and needs and can even become addictive given the amount of sugar usually in them. Usually when people think of processed foods, they think of fast food, but there are so many other foods that fall under the processed category! Salad dressing, pasta sauce, and granola bars are all examples of seemingly innocent foods that can be full of preservatives and other artificial ingredients. Swapping out these processed foods with homemade alternates is a great way to increase your energy levels and give your body the nutrients it needs. For example, you could swap out store-bought salad dressing with a mix of vinegar or citrus juices. One of my favorite mixes is apple cider vinegar and honey!
Drink Water Throughout The Day
Okay, this is probably the 10th post I’ve said this in, but drinking water regularly is so important to your health!! If you feel yourself getting sleepy halfway through the day, there’s a good chance you’re dehydrated. Carrying a water bottle with you is a good way to remind yourself to drink, but you can also set reminders on your phone every couple hours.
Get Your Daily Fruits And Veggies
I’ve always been a bit of a slacker when it comes to eating the proper amount of fruits and vegetables each day, but this year I’m making it a top priority. Fruits are pretty easy to mix into my daily meals, but vegetables are a challenge for me, especially the green ones. I recently had the opportunity to try out some delicious juices from Evolution Fresh®, and they’ve seriously turned that problem around!
Evolution Fresh® is a super-premium juice created using high-pressure processing to help protect nutrients and taste, meaning this stuff tastes as close to freshly picked as possible. Each bottle of green juice contains only fruits and vegetables, and most of them have over a serving of veggies! My favorite is the Smooth Greens & Kale juice, which is a medley of go-to greens with potassium, a splash of tropical sweetness, and a smooth mint finish, with only 7 g of sugar per 8 fl oz. serving. In fact, each bottle of green juice contains 10 g of sugar or less per 8 fluid ounce serving, so you can get those veggies in without feeling guilty! Learn more about these juices that are available near you at your local grocery store and at select Starbucks stores.
Aim For That 8 Hours Of Sleep
Getting a full night of sleep isn’t always a priority for college students, but it can really make a difference in your productivity and energy levels. I physically can’t get through my Tuesday and Thursday schedule without a full 8 hours of sleep (4 lectures in a row), and on my easier days, I’m so much more productive after a good night’s rest! Try it out for a week and keep track of how you feel each day, and I’m confident you’ll enjoy the benefits.
Take A Few Mindful Minutes Each Day
A few months ago, I spent a week keeping track of my breathing throughout the day and was amazed at how often I caught myself breathing faster than normal. I could be scrolling through Pinterest and have no idea that my breathing rate was excessively high! Since then, I’ve been using breathing reminders on my Apple Watch to take a few minutes each day just for relaxing my mind and taking deep breaths. This simple routine can immediately lower my stress levels, and has actually made me feel happier and more present throughout the day. Try adding a few of these mindful minutes to your daily routine and see how they change your mood!
Find A Workout Routine That Meets Your Needs
I’ve personally never been a fan of running, so going on a 5 mile job is obviously not the routine for me. Instead, I love popping into yoga or barre classes and spending up to an hour on the elliptical. Finding a workout routine that targets your wellness goals and that you genuinely enjoy is the best way to become consistent with exercising! Working out shouldn’t be something you dread, but a time you look forward to and can refresh your mind during. If it helps, find a friend with similar wellness goals and start a routine with them!
Take A Sip In A Brighter Direction
This year, Evolution Fresh® is really pushing to help people take a sip in a brighter direction and move forward in their health and wellness journey. I’m personally extremely passionate about keeping my body clean inside and out, so this year #MySmallSip is to keep up a whole foods based diet. It’s a goal I’ve been working towards for a few months now, and I’m finally ready to make it a top priority. I know the benefits of eating healthy will eventually outweigh the challenge of giving up some of my favorite foods, and I’ll be sure to share my progress here on the blog!
Your small sip might be totally different from mine, but what matters is that it fits your goals. If there’s a health or wellness goal that you’re really focusing on this year, I’d love to hear about it in the comments!