New year 2022, new beginning: find your ideal wellness resolution!

We often say things like, “This year, I’m going to exercise , I’m going to stay calm , I’m going to watch what I eat, or I’m going to quit smoking…” New Year’s resolutions are a bit like writing a letter to Santa. It’s a list full of gifts, hoping that at least one of them will be granted. More than a third of French people ( 37% ) made a New Year’s resolution to be physically active in 2021, but how many actually kept that wish? Don’t worry, we’ll look together at the best resolution to make based on how you felt about the year.

Excessive stress: we relax

This year has been particularly trying for many of us.
75% of French people report feeling at least one negative impact on their physical, psychological well-being or their general fitness as a result of this year 2021.
These figures are particularly significant for women. Regarding physical well-being, 62% of us experience a negative impact, compared to only 55% of men. The same is true for psychological well-being, where 59% of women are affected, while only 42% of men are. It's time to take the bull by the horns!

Listen to what you feel

Most people tend to flee from certain emotions, creating a feeling of anxiety that, for some, leads to depression or burnout .

Studies have shown that the more we try to avoid a negative emotion , the more it comes rushing back. An emotion is a bit like a crying baby: the less you listen to it, the more it will cry. The more attentive you are and the more you respond to its needs, the more it will calm down .

There are many techniques for listening to your emotions. But the simplest approach is to manage to sit still for a few seconds, close your eyes, and remain perfectly still while listening to what's happening in your body. At first, it will be chaotic ! You can imagine, emotions have so much information to convey! So everything comes out in a jumble.

Then, once they have fully expressed themselves, you will feel relaxed and discover things about yourself, your desires, your life…

We advise you to write everything down in order to organize your thoughts and make the exercise more effective .

Set yourself some goals

"Why do I get up in the morning?" A simple question, but you'll see that the answer isn't as easy as it seems.

Answers like, to go to work, for my children… are valid answers but that’s not really what we’re looking for.

So let's rephrase the question: "What motivates me to get up in the morning? What project excites me right now?" It's a difficult question, but it allows us to uncover some deeply buried issues. And if the answer is "I have no dreams," then we can perceive one of the major problems . No dreams? That's impossible.

A life without purpose can seem dull and is a definite source of stress . Not having one is anxiety-inducing , but above all, impossible, because we always want something. We always have a goal to achieve, an objective to reach; we must search deep within ourselves to find the answers that will resonate with us and give us a reason to get up with a smile!

There's a technique for this situation: try to find 12 life goals , write them down, and stick the sheet of paper in a place you'll see every day . Some of these 12 goals will be practical: renovating the garage, repainting the living room…

Others, a third of the objectives, must belong to the realm of dreams, such as visiting the Grand Canyon, taking a week's vacation in the Bahamas or New York...

Not convinced? Try it and you'll see that your life will improve because you'll really feel like you're moving forward on a path and no longer in the void.

Excessive laziness: sport as a motivating remedy

You're not exactly lacking in bursts of motivation. It's just that they evaporate as quickly as your glass of champagne on New Year's Eve. To overcome this problem, what better way than to get back on track? Say hello to the 75% of French people who intend to get back into sports , 54% of whom actually manage to do so, so why not you?

Some key figures

To address the initial dizziness, we'll try to understand why all of this is important and the dangers of inaction. Please note, there's no judgment here; the main goal is to realize that we've changed our lifestyle and that it's important to get moving!
Did you know? Physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle are the main risk factors for non-communicable diseases. Crazy, right? And despite this, only half ( 53% ) of women meet the WHO's physical activity recommendations. These recommendations define at least 2 hours and 30 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity or 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, according to this study published in the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin of Public Health France.
At the same time, on average, eight out of ten adults report spending 3 hours or more per day in front of a screen outside of their professional activity, compared to 54% in 2006-2007 , an increase of almost 30% which is " more marked among women ".
To determine whether or not individuals meet the WHO recommendations, researchers developed an indicator that adapts these objectives. They consider an adult to meet the physical activity recommendations if they engage in some form of sport at least three days a week , with at least 25 minutes of vigorous physical activity per day, or five days with at least 30 minutes of moderate activity per day. Physical activity is classified as vigorous when it "significantly increases the heart rate" (swimming, running, football, etc.) and as moderate when it "noticeably increases" this rate (walking, dancing, cycling, etc.). The result is the same: excessive sedentary behavior leads to much more serious problems, regardless of age! It is therefore important to give it your all, and to do so...

Let's go back and get motivated!

For motivation , it's essential to see progress in your sporting activity. To achieve this, regular training is imperative.
Aim for 3 to 4 workouts per week . This is the best compromise between regularity and recovery time. So, no more last-minute, impromptu workouts that you cancel at the last minute! The solution: schedule a specific time slot in your day for exercise. By creating this dedicated time for physical activity, you carve out space in your day for exercise and nothing else. It's a great way to burn off energy and clear your mind of negative thoughts .
No more excuses about lack of time or other things to do this year—your time slot is reserved, and you can't cancel! And if you're having trouble sticking to your goals of a regular workout, remember that your body needs three weeks to register a new habit. After that, it will be used to working out at your usual times, and you'll find it much easier to motivate yourself for your session! So let's keep going!
If you're still discovering a sport, the learning, the excitement, the encounters, the exchanges, and all the intermediate goals ultimately become more important to you. Your morale and motivation will be greatly increased once you find the sport that suits you . Simply put, you'll achieve better physical and mental results if enjoyment remains the primary driving force behind your participation.
Moreover, this advice is also valuable in the long run. By taking your time and progressing through all the stages in terms of performance or distance, you'll burn out less quickly mentally, and your sport will be with you for longer. Ultimately, the goal is to enjoy the activity itself, not just the results. But focusing solely on one activity would mean missing out on something very important for your personal well-being .

Overeating: it's time to get back on track.

We saw you sneaking into that pack of chocolates 😉! After devouring in a few days what you usually consume in a month (don't worry, no guilt trips, it's good to treat yourself sometimes, and this is the perfect time for it!), it's time to get back on track. If you're one of the 38% of French people who say they want to eat better or eat less in order to lose weight, then let's do it together!

No grand speech, just a point of order.

Here, there's no "eat more vegetables and stop eating fatty foods." The goal is to offer you more sensible ways of eating without making drastic changes.

For their own health , out of ethical concern, or for the sake of the environment , the trend in 2022 is towards a flexitarian diet . This doesn't mean banning meat from our diet, but rather reducing the quantity and prioritizing quality . In short, we stop buying supermarket meat every lunchtime and occasionally treat ourselves to a nice cut from our local butcher.

When it comes to drinks, it's the same story, but even more insidious! While a mojito now and then isn't so bad, the trend is definitely towards alcohol-free options and, above all , less sugar . As time goes on, we want to take better care of ourselves. Knowing the consequences of consuming alcohol and sugar, we can consider quitting altogether or opting for drinks with lower sugar content. It's a step that isn't without consequences, but it's a good starting point for adopting a healthier diet.

Need some inspiration? Pinterest!