Healthy New Year’s Resolutions That Go Beyond Getting in Shape

Forget restrictive dieting, counting calories and dealing with shame after you indulge. Eat for your feelings, but in a positive way. Healthy foods — turns out! — isn’t just good for your body, but they’re good for you mood. Foods like nuts, eggs, fruit and more have been shown to help with brain and mental wellness.

Resolving to meditate is one thing. But attach a time to it and it will actually help you sleep. It creates a “relaxation response” that can help reduce sleeplessness and insomnia. Also, did you know that meditating with mantras also helps with this common phobia?

You don’t need a study to say that cooking for yourself and your family puts you in control of the ingredients. But if this is the year that you decide to fall in love with cooking, don’t take it too seriously. Have fun with it. Play with recipes. Don’t get too hard on yourself if things don’t turnout Pinterest-worthy. Treat yourself to a beautiful cook book — and appreciate the ability to learn from the cooking process.

And don’t forget to stock your pantry with these herbs and spices.

Walking is just so damn good for you. According to the National Institutes of Health, walking helps regulate more than your step count. It also helps maintain mood, body weight, bone density and muscle strength. Plus it lowers the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. You can stick with a walking routine and add steps by taking the stairs and not taking the closest parking spot to the door. Here are more tips to move more at work.

Who doesn’t want a kitchen reno? But instead of thinking countertops and tiles, think about what’s inside your cupboards. It’s time to build a kitchen around the types of foods you want to be eating and making by stocking up with healthy ingredients. And make sure you add these 12 foods to your grocery list.

Sometimes working out can be a chore. And to be honest, if you treat it way, by giving it a priority in your calendar, you will stick with your fitness program. Add your workouts to your calendar and check them as “done" when you finish a session. Not only will your schedule keep you on track, but you’ll feel good about each workout you complete. Check!

RELATED: 11 signs you're not great at working out.

“I work well under pressure.” We all say it to colleagues and in job interviews, and perhaps we all mean it, too. But what we are likely really saying is that we don’t recognize the signs of stress — until it’s too late. Acne. Lack of sleep. Anxiety. And so much more. Recognize these 10 signs and smack back at stress.

Having a goal, like "lose weight", doesn’t stick. It’s too open. It’s not specific enough. And it’s not about the process of the goal. But getting stronger is about being more fit, lifting (heavier) weights. Plus it’s something you can usually see within a few workout sessions. Plus, working out with weights elevates metabolism for up to 48 hours after the workout. That’s reason enough to pick up a set of weights!

Money is a major cause of stress for many people. Yet, you don’t often think about resolutions for bettering your financial health. But it’s your resolution, so you can resolve to be richer! [Insert devilish laugh here!] And now that the holiday spending is behind us, there is no better time than now to begin a new year with a new budget. Start with giving yourself a weekly allowance by spending only cash, listing your purchases and consider more money saving tips here.

This doesn’t sounds like a traditional resolution, and that’s because this list is about doing things for you so that you feel good about yourself. And lipstick is a fun resolution that feels a bit more indulgent than the typical restrictive New Year’s resolutions people make. Dubbed "lipstick effect" by scientists, female subjects report higher confidence levels when wearing lipstick. And don’t forget to choose a lippy that’s good for a dry winter pout.

Let's be honest, anyone can get that lipstick confidence — for those reluctant to sport colour, try a solid nude!

Maybe your beauty routine needs a bit of a makeover. If you’re becoming more aware of your skin’s health, and your expensive moisturizer doesn’t seem to be working as hard as it did, it’s time to get into healthy skin habits, like washing your face on the reg. This is how the American Dermatology Association says to do it:

• Use a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser that does not contain alcohol.
• Wet your face with lukewarm water and use your fingertips to apply cleanser.
• Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry with a soft towel.
• Apply moisturizer if your skin is dry or itchy.

Repeat: I will go to the doctor. Stop tolerating that minor health issue and do something about it. Too often we write off things as coming from getting older or not being as fit as we used to be. But we all deserve to be healthy, and the best way to do that is to see your health care provider, whether it’s your doctor, naturopath, or whomever. (Also, definitely make an appointment if you’ve been suffering from any of these silent symptoms.

Part of the motivation to getting and staying fit is to enjoy the workouts. Genius, right? So instead of mixing in with the January rush at the gym, take your time. Take advantage of the “first class” rates, and some studios even offer a free class for first-timers. Focus on the type of fitness and the rest of your resolutions will fall into place. Consider any of these classes too!

Hello gorgeous! It’s about time you saw your true worth — your beautiful, glorious value. And that means swapping the negative self-talk with affirmations and compliments. Make this the year that you feel better about yourself — and think better about yourself. And the next time you get negative on yourself, try one of these celeb-tested ways to feel better about yourself.

There’s no downside to this resolution. And the best part is that the rewards come right away (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). Focusing on your relationship (or relationships, if that’s your thing) is healthy for your body and mind! Here are 20 habits to improve your sex life.

Make fitness a social occasion by meeting up with friends to work on your fitness. Try a boot camp class, meet at the gym, check out a new fitness studio, or finally take that Pilates reformer class. It’s always more fun and motivating with a bestie.

Everyone needs to stretch. Not only does it feel good, it can also help with pain, reports the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety. It recommends you hold stretches for 10 to 20 seconds and to change positions often, especially if you’re stuck in a car for a commute, at your desk for hours, or even if your job has you doing repetitive movements. Here are 10 stretches to get you started.

Self-help books, entrepreneurial podcasts, Instagram letterboards — they all tell you to embrace failure as a learning lesson and to recognize you were willing to take a risk. After all, if you fear failure, you won’t go after anything worthwhile. (That may or may not have been posted on Pinterest.) Not convinced? Feel better about your own failures by reading about the ridiculous reasons these celebrities were fired.

Your tribe is your vibe, so it may be time to cut off those friends who bring you down and spend more time with those who inspire and lift you up. Toxic friendships can be hard on your mental health, and eventually your physical health too. Here is how to Marie Kondo your circle of friends.

You’ll sleep better. It’s good for your skin — and your private parts. And it’s great for these other reasons, too. Plus, you just may help with New Year’s resolution number 15 on this list! Imagine slaying two resolutions at once!