Today I’m back with eleven more ways to upgrade your life in the new year, for a total of 23! Here’s part 1 in case you missed it. They cover all areas of life, from a healthy diet to reading to self-care and everything in between.
And I would love for you to share your ideas for a fresh start in 2023 in the comments below–remember that I have guest commenting enabled, so you needn’t sign up with Disqus to leave a comment 🙂
More Little Ways to Upgrade Your Life
13. Drink more water. As I’m currently nursing Baby K, I drink a lot of water, 96oz per day minimum. The average adult needs 64oz of hydrating fluids per day, and more when it’s extra hot and/or dry or you’ve been active! It helps to invest in a high-quality, big water bottle if you don’t own one already (the link is my favorite from Target).
14. Invest in clothing staples that will make you feel put-together every day. Whether that’s the perfect pair of leggings, solid color t-shirts or a cute, comfy pair of snow boots. When I was younger, I always went for the cute, unique pieces but I never owned the basics, so putting together outfits was hard! Flattering basics = effortless style, in my opinion.
15. Swap out your plastic food storage and water bottles for glass. If you haven’t done so already, now’s the time! Many recent studies document the ill effects of plastic leaching and microplastics. What’s done is done, but you can boost your health now by making the switch.
16. Find a favorite blog or YouTube channel to follow. Instead of mindless scrolling on Facebook, Instagram, etc–consume long-form content that requires more focus and engagement from you. I find that I actually learn things that benefit my life in doing this, instead of feeling that I’ve wasted time.
17. Commit to moving your body every day. Whether it’s vacuuming your house, taking a walk or an exercise class, get up and get active. “Sitting is the new smoking,” my mom said at the Christmas holidays, and it’s so true!
18. Join a local Buy Nothing group. This is such a nice and easy way to declutter unnecessary items as you know they’re going to a good home. Plus, usually the taker comes to pick up the item; all you need to do is leave it on your doorstep.
19. Schedule regular meetups with family. My favorite part of 2022 was hands-down reconnecting with our families. We’re a “family first” bunch for sure. No family is perfect, but working on those relationships pays off a millionfold over time.
20. Go to sleep earlier. Most of us need our eight hours to be fully rested, even if we can manage on less. Over time lack of sleep leads to a variety of chronic health problems, so make 2023 the year that you start practicing good sleep hygiene, including an earlier bedtime.
21. Book regular medical appointments. As an adult it’s way too easy to avoid the dentist or think “I’ll deal with that later”–until you wind up with a major health problem. Take advantage of access to preventative medicine. See your physician, dentist, dermatologist or whoever you need to see before there’s a big issue.
22. Work on your posture. Everyone’s been talking about “goblin mode” this year, and nothing makes me feel more like a goblin than constantly sitting hunched over! Good posture has loads of physical and mental benefits.
23. Approach life with a positive attitude. The pandemic made a lot of people feel cynical about the world, including me. But whilst approaching new things with healthy skepticism is smart, that doesn’t mean you should go around expecting the worst of everything and everyone all the time. Our thoughts create our reality, so let’s make a beautiful one together, shall we?
Happy 2023, and here’s to a wonderful new year!
xx Claire
