Men
January is always a time for big resolutions. Everyone has been through the slog and self-indulgence of December, and they are thinking about how everything is going to be different from this point on. But there is always going to be one big problem with resolutions: sticking to them. If you are someone who finds it much easier to make a long list of everything that you want to be different, but finds it harder to put it into practice, you are not alone.
The best way to ensure that you make good on those promises to yourself is to create a plan that will work for you. And one of the most important things that all men should be doing is thinking about how they can take better care of themselves. When you are stressed, over-worked and over-tired (as so many of us are at the moment), self-care will always get pushed to the back of the queue. There is always going to be a bit more work to do, another tough week to get through, one more item that needs to be crossed off the list before bed. If you really want to take better care of yourself in the new year, you need an action plan. Here’s where you should start.
Address The Issues That Have Been Bothering You
Self-care comes in many different forms, and one of the most important is getting proactive when it comes to those long-standing issues that make you unhappy. It can be tough when it is a health issue or something to do with your appearance that is not exactly urgent, but it impacts your confidence or how you feel about how you look. The best place to start with these kinds of issues is to remember that you are never going to be the only person dealing with them. The next is to remember that there are a lot of different options out there to help you manage or treat them. One of the most common examples of this in men is male pattern baldness. Hair loss can have a massive impact on your confidence and happiness, but the earlier you look at treatment, the better chance you have of keeping it. You can find out about hair loss in men and treatment options like minoxidil and finasteride at Chemist4U. They have so many resources to help you understand causes and treatments, and they offer discreet delivery on products.
Create A Routine That You Can Stick To
You may not immediately think of a schedule as being part of a self-care regimen. But if you want to start being more consistent in looking after yourself, a routine will give you the framework that you need. Mapping out your day will show you where you have more time than you thought you did, and where you need to draw the line and say that “nothing is happening after this.” A routine can be very helpful when it comes to thinking about how to improve your physical health, which brings us to our next point.
Find A Physical Exercise Routine You Enjoy
For a lot of people who grew up with gym teachers telling them that they were not working hard enough, physical exercise has become something that is supposed to be unpleasant. It is easy to think of it as a process that needs you to grit your teeth and just get through it, but one of the best ways that you can improve your health is by finding an activity that you actually enjoy. It is recommended that everyone should get about 150 minutes of exercise a week, so it is important, but you don’t need to hate doing it. Can’t stand going to the gym? Why not try going for a gentle jog in a park near you instead? If you find running to be incredibly tedious, find out if there are any local sports clubs that you could join, or try something a bit more adventurous like paddle boarding. There are a lot of options out there and you may be surprised by how much you enjoy what you find.
If you check out this family dentist in Ballwin, they’ll also advise you to complement exercising with regular health checkups. Working out is a great way to get fit and make your body stronger, however, it doesn’t make you resistant to diseases. Therefore, visiting your doctors is still important so they can keep your health in check.
Make Big Changes Slowly
It is always going to be tempting to try and change everything in one go. But you may find that you have a better chance of sticking to these positive changes if you go slow and steady. For example, say you want to try and communicate more with your friends about your mental health. You don’t need to change your approach overnight; you need to go at a pace that you feel comfortable with. If you are worried about how much you’ve been drinking over the festive season, why not think about having a couple of nights a week that are alcohol-free instead of announcing that you’ll never drink again? The important thing is that you find an approach that works for you and that you can build on.
