Heally’s Top 8 New Year’s Resolutions

The New Year resolution. It is a wonderful sentiment, isn’t it? Plans to prosper in the new year help to shift our focus toward the goals that will improve us in the future. So as we celebrate and mourn the triumphs and trials of the past year with our loved ones, spend time away from work, and reflect on the last 365 days we thought we would jot down some resolutions of our own. Here are our top eight resolutions for 2019.

1. Put our health first – above all else

This is a tough one for many of us. You may be thinking “but my family (or significant other, or work) comes first!”, as we’ve all heard a flight attendant recite “Put on your oxygen mask before you assist others” there are some valuable life lessons behind why this rule should apply on and off the plane. The daily demands of life can distract us from the fact that we aren’t feeling so hot.

What was once just a random stomach ache becomes a daily reoccurrence we try to ignore. That headache that was once a fluke is now creeping up into our weeks like clockwork. That should be a sign that something is off in our system that may need addressing. Feeling ill more than once a week is not normal, and by continuing to procrastinate the steps it will take to correct it now, we may endanger our health in the long run. You won’t be able to put your family, spouse, or job first if you are in a hospital bed or suffering from a debilitating illness. That’s why this is one of our most important New Year’s Resolutions.

2. Approach all situations through a veil of kindness and understanding

There’s no doubt that the political climate, social media interactions, and growingly hostile responses to opinions in the last few years have caused plenty of stress – on top of the daily stressors of life like bills, the DMV, and managing a household. Slowly the actions or moods of others start to slip into our behaviors and we find ourselves caught in frustrating emotional rollercoaster conversations.

This year, we want to step back from the chaos and approach each new person, conversation, and situation with a more thoughtful eye. Instead of a knee-jerk reaction, let’s take the time to consider all the perspectives and possibilities of a situation. Remaining calm, kind, and respectful instead of lashing back can open the door to new understanding. We are all living on the same planet orbiting through space. We all want to be heard and understood. Let’s start with the desire to hear, more than the desire to be heard.

3. No diets! Intentionally improve the nutrient density of our meals

This year, instead of declaring war on your body through starvation methods, fad solutions, and short-term restrictions that backfire in the end, let’s focus on something else: incorporating nutrient-rich foods into our meals. To make it clear, nutrient-dense foods are categorically high in vitamins and minerals and are low in sodium, calories, sugar, starches, and bad fats.

Today more than ever, we have quick access to unhealthy options and snack foods that taste delicious but have little-to-no nutritious value. By thoughtfully incorporating more nutrient-rich foods, we support our immune system, promote healthy skin, support the function of our brains, and even aid in proper digestion. This year, we are focusing on incorporating nutrient-dense options like salmon, blueberries, garlic, dark green vegetables, avocado, asparagus, brussels sprouts, mushrooms, colorful fruits, or sweet potatoes into our routines. Maybe by being more intentional about incorporating these foods, we will naturally eat less of the foods that harm us. If you need more ideas for nutrient-dense foods, click here, here, or here.

4. Take calculated and assessed risks

Risky, thoughtless, or emotional decision-making is not good for anyone, but thoughtful calculated risks are something different altogether. New opportunities; like a new job, moving to a new city, or investing money, may involve some level of risk and these decisions require thoughtful assessment. Create pros and cons list, weigh the benefits and costs, and anticipate possible issues or hurdles with each decision. Some opportunities may require more time before you can make the final call. Others need immediate action.

Weigh all of the possible outcomes carefully, but don’t be afraid to leap forward if your assessment suggests the risk is worth it. Growth is tough to come by while standing still. Lastly, let’s not overlook the smaller daily choices we make. Instead of making knee-jerk reactions to a co-worker’s behavior toward you, or making an emotional choice over the actions of a loved one, slow down to allow yourself to feel your emotions but not act out of the heat of them. Sometimes slowing down to evaluate is the best decision we can make. Some would say this type of decision-making is that of someone with emotional intelligence.

5. Consider one supplement to incorporate into a daily regimen – Vitamin D3

If you are new to supplements, it can be a little overwhelming to know where to start. To avoid the burnout that can accompany a new supplement regimen that is pill-heavy, and costly, we suggest starting with one supplement to start: Vitamin D3. As stated by Dr. Nancy Jeffers, MD, “[Vitamin D3] is so essential for human functioning that there are receptors for it on every cell in the human body, and 13,000 binding sites for Vitamin D3 on human DNA”.

She explains “What used to be thought of as normal aging is pretty much just progressive vitamin D3 deficiency, including degenerative (osteo)arthritis, osteoporosis (thin bones), high blood pressure, heart disease due to atherosclerosis, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s dementia”. A daily dose of Vitamin D3 is what nature intended for our systems to operate properly. Starting small with one supplement doesn’t mean you won’t benefit tremendously – Vitamin D is the building block for a healthy system.

6. Utilize cannabis in a healthy and thoughtful way

Like anything, cannabis should be consumed in moderation. That may mean something different for each individual’s specific health needs. If you haven’t yet found the best dosing and frequency for you, keeping a cannabis consumption journal may help narrow it down. Most doctors suggest starting your THC dose at 2.5-5mg and waiting to consume more until you understand how it affected you. CBD can be supplemented into the diet daily as a preventative effort.

Alongside the details of your dose and strain, document the feelings, sensations, emotions, and other aspects of your experience. If you feel the next time you may need more, slowly titrate your dose up and record your experience. When you understand how cannabis affects you, you’ll be more prepared to consume consciously without overuse.

7. Practice self-care like it’s our job

When we practice self-care, we help to relieve stress and care for our minds. Areas of self-care include physical, psychological, emotional, social, professional, environmental, spiritual, and financial. When we make the tough choices that are healthy and put our well-being first, we become more balanced and more confident in our ability to make the right choices.

Practicing self-care can keep one out of debt, maintain a healthy relationship with nature, keep you engaged in your hobbies, set healthy emotional boundaries, and protect your mental health. We should practice self-care like it’s our job because caring for our wellness has the potential to increase the enjoyment and longevity of our lives.

8. Sit in the discomfort of change

Let’s face it, change is hard and often painful. Mother nature never intended for us to be in control, but we still act surprised when the universe deals us a hand we don’t particularly favor. This year, instead of dealing with change through drinking, avoiding our feelings, isolation, or falling into the depths of self-sabotaging depression, we will sit in the moment of pain or discomfort and simply allow ourselves to feel and understand what it is we are feeling. Take the time to sit in the quiet. Allow yourself to experience the emotion of sadness or anger.

Some people find it helpful to journal about their pain and discomfort because it makes tangible the thoughts in our minds, allowing us to understand and potentially accept the change healthily. When we better understand how we experience pain, we permit ourselves to feel and heal. Remember, talking through your thoughts and feelings with a trusted loved one may help in the process of dealing with and accepting change. Being vulnerable is often the first step in healing.

No matter your background, your job, or your beliefs, we think these New Year’s resolutions could benefit us all. From all of us at Heally, we want to wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. If you have questions about how cannabis could benefit you and your health, consult with one of our doctors.

By Bri Smith

This website is informational and cannot diagnose or treat illness or disease. Medical marijuana aka cannabis should be used under the direction of a licensed healthcare provider. This site is intended for adults and legal medical marijuana patients. This site contains links to products we sell on our marketplace.

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Creating an account is easy, free, and safe on our HIPAA-compliant platform. Visit with a doctor from the comfort of your home or on the go using your cell phone or computer, no appointment is necessary. If the physician thinks cannabis is right for your health and wellness goals, they will discuss treatment options and will grant you a downloadable certification document. Heally’s Telehealth platform currently serves California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio with medical recommendations. Please note you will not be charged the fee if the doctor does not believe the video visit meets her or his standard of care. If you do not live in a medically legal state and would like access to CBD products, visit the Marketplace.  Questions? Contact us at support@getheally.com