The new year will be here before you know it, and with it a newfound commitment to working out, eating better, and practicing an overall healthier lifestyle. While we know how much resolutions may mean to people, we also understand that busy schedules can oftentimes get us off track. From personal experience and conversations with patients we’ve seen how difficult it can be to both make and break daily habits.

Turning your goals into a reality comes down to making small changes that build upon one another over time. With 2020 right around the corner, I thought to share some of my tips and tricks for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and how you can incorporate them into your daily life.

Go Green – One of the easiest ways to improve your health is to throw some greens into the mix with every meal. Spinach and kale are great additions to lunch and dinner that can contribute to greater calorie-burning abilities and gut health. You can also incorporate greens into your snacking for a middle of the day pick-me-up. Warren and I love keeping organic celery around the house for a crunchy snack that’s packed with essential minerals and vitamins! Celery also helps to protect your skin from the inside and prevents UV-induced damage.

Make Exercising Convenient – Don’t have time to make it to the gym? There are still plenty of opportunities to fit in a workout! I love dedicating 10-15 minutes throughout the day towards physical activity that refreshes both my body and mind. Grab some mobile exercise equipment like resistance bands or small dumbbells to stash in your office/home for a quick and easy workout.

Don’t Sweat the Sweets – Ice cream, cookies, alcohol – we all love a little sugar fix from time to time. While you don’t have to deprive yourself of sweets entirely, be sure not to overdo it. Not only can too much sugar irritate and inflame the skin, but as a reminder from our friend Dr. Gundry’s paradox diet, sweets don’t make good “gut buddies.” Sugar actually creates a thriving environment for many diseases such as cancer.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate – Hydration is key to not only your skin wellness, but your overall health as well. Keep a sustainable water bottle on you at all times and challenge yourself every day to drink at least two to three liters. For an added boost, mix in some electrolytes with your H2O to amp up the hydration factor. You can also head to Whole Foods and fill a jug with alkaline water to both save money and avoid single-use plastic water bottles.

Take Some R&R – We all have busy schedules that keep us on our toes day-to-day, but everyone needs some rest now and then. Getting enough sleep is crucial to your overall health and gives your skin the time it needs to rest and replenish. We also recommend incorporating products such as SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore or HA Intensifier to help you maintain a restored look.

If living healthier is one of your goals in 2020, these tips are sure to help you get there! Our team is also here to help you find the products, treatments, and lifestyle changes needed to ensure healthy skin year-round. Give us a call at 205-870-0204 or schedule an appointment online with us today!