21 Healthy New Year’s Resolutions For A Life-Changing Year

Thrilled about the coming year, and excited to kickstart your health journey? 

These healthy New Year’s resolutions will help you set realistic and achievable goals, and also give you a much-needed boost of confidence. 

A new year is the symbol of hope, light, and hard-core determination to do great things. It’s the time of year when everyone strives to do better in life.

The best way to make this year all about growth and achievements is to set resolutions for yourself.

By doing so, you hold yourself accountable. You also get motivated to see your goals through till the end.

While you might be all pumped up about making 2024 the best year of your life, it’d do you well to focus on your overall well-being.

It’s important to pick healthy New Year’s resolutions that cater to your body, mind, and soul.

As the one person who has the most power over your life, it’s your responsibility to set positive and realistic goals.

And I will be all too glad to nudge you in the right direction.

Like the post so far? Pin it now for safe keeping. 🙂

This post is all about healthy New Year’s resolutions that you can add to your goal list for 2024, without stressing yourself out.

Hope you’ll have a blast turning these goals into lifetime habits!

Let’s dive in. 🙂

21 Healthy New Year’s Resolutions For A Life-Changing Year

1. 10 Glasses Of Water Per Day

Let’s start our 2024 by taking on the hydration challenge.

I don’t know about your current water intake, but I am willing to bet all my hair that it’s not enough to meet your health requirements.

I am confident in stating this because I meet so many people every day who make the same mistake.

Heck, even I used to drink 4 cups of water daily and stay blissfully ignorant about this low number.

If you can relate, then let me tell you this is bad, bad, bad for your body.

For the ultimate body wellness, you should be consuming a lot of water. And if you haven’t been doing it so far, you’re going to start this year.

Make a habit of drinking at least 10 glasses of water per day.

Use a water-tracking app for a month to get used to this, and then rely on your newly developed habit to keep going for the rest of the year.

2. Slow Down

The workaholic/ speed-lover/ impatient part of you would resist this idea, but perhaps you should consider slowing down a little.

Tell me this – When was the last time you took a cab ride and stared out the window, blissfully unaware of your pressing and urgent matters?

Also something worth pondering over – When did you stop near a plant and close your eyes to smell a flower?

Slowing down yourself is the number 1 way to live life to its full extent. You just can’t absorb all the beauty around you if you’re in a constant rush.

So, this year, make it a resolution to slow down and practice mindfulness.

3. Prioritize Self-Care (From Day 1)

Self-care is the key to unlocking your intrinsic power. It’s your way of assuring your inner child that you value it.

It’s a beautiful language of self-love, and there’s nobody in the world who doesn’t need it.

If you’ve been lacking in the self-care department, start adding it to your routine from day 1 of the New Year.

For those of you who need a gentle introduction to it, read my post on 7 types of self-care, and learn how to practice them for a better life.

You might like: 15 Winter Self-Care Ideas To Make Your Days Cozy

4. Maintain A Journal

If I had a penny for every time I’ve suggested journaling to someone, I’d be the richest gal on this planet.

Usually, people say they don’t keep a journal because they don’t know what to do with it. ‘Like, why do I even need a journal?’ they ask.

Good question, I guess. But here’s an even better one – ‘why don’t you need a journal?’

There’s so much that your brain needs to process on an everyday basis, so much noise that needs to be flushed out and so many thoughts that need to be held close.

Journaling is the best form of self-communication. It opens up your blocked creative channels and adds depth to your everyday life.

So if you’ve been looking to be more expressive to yourself, add daily (or even weekly) journaling to your list of resolutions for 2024.

5. Master The Art Of Mindful Eating

Do you make your eating choices based on your instincts, or do you run a little wild with your food?

Most often, a person would respond in the affirmative to the latter. And truly, there’s nothing wrong with having fun with your food.

But what if I told you that you can increase your food awareness without it becoming a nuisance?

What if there was a way to make eating more enjoyable for both your body and your mind?

I think most people would want to jump on such a wagon. I am glad to introduce you to the concept that embodies this, called mindful eating.

It’s as blissful as it sounds. You make use of your mind to tune into your body’s needs and then eat accordingly.

Here is a detailed post on mindful eating, with 13 unique ways you can use to master it.

Bookmark it for later, and then read it to decide for yourself whether it’s worth adding to your list of healthy New Year’s resolutions.

6. Learn To Cook

Many would argue against this idea, but cooking is a necessary skill to have. There will be many moments in your life when you won’t be able to access a restaurant or have a family member who cooks for you.

Knowing how to cook will save you the trouble of going out of your way to feed yourself. It can also be a fun process. Many even use it to bust their daily stress.

Also, cooking your own food can help you be mindful of how you prepare it, and make healthier choices with your ingredients.

Tips to learn cooking in 2024:

• Invest in some cookbooks.
• Create a recipe journal and keep adding dishes as you master them.
• Learn from Youtube (hands down the best use of the Internet.)
• Follow some food blogs (my recommendation: Gathering Dreams)
• Ask a friend to teach you their recipes.
• Take cooking classes.

7. Spend More Time In Nature

Nature is the best teacher, healer, and giver.

It amazes me at times and even humbles me to realize how blessed I am to have so much greenery around me.

I wish for you to be amazed in the same ways, and make full use of the companionship that only nature can provide.

Here are some blissful ways to connect with nature in 2024:

• Catch the sunrise and sunset as often as you can.
• Go for walks.
• Sit under the moonlight.
• Plan hiking trips with friends.
• On a sunlit winter morning, sit on the grass and read a book.
• Take a trip to your nearest natural water body for a swim.
• Read about the moon and develop an appreciation for its phases.
• And the best one – Do gardening, and add your own touch to nature!

Check out: 10 Simple Everyday Habits To Improve Your Mental Health

8. Take A Solo Trip Before The End Of Year

While it’s true that we, as humans, are interdependent on each other, nobody can be a better companion to you than yourself.

You’ll have many opportunities to take family trips, but a solo trip needs to be planned in advance.

It’s something you’ll need to make up your mind about and then go for without any doubts.

Related: 51 Best Solo Date Ideas To Make You Love Yourself

If you feel like exploring your adventurous side, pick out a location and a month, and add it to your new calendar.

The trip will help you connect to yourself, and take a reprieve from the world.

2024 will then truly be a spectacular year and going forward, you can add this to your resolutions every year.

9. Get Started With Health-Infused Teas

2024 could be your year to reap the rewards of healthy cups of tea.

Drinking tea is a blissful self-care activity, and is said to reduce stress and increase your focus.

Take your tea sugar-free to tap into its health benefits. Don’t add milk either. To make it even more healthy, you might want to add ginger, honey, mint leaves, or lemon.

Teas to enjoy on 2024 weekends:

• Chamomile tea
• Black tea
• Green tea
• Ginger tea
• Jasmine tea
• Peppermint tea

An Important Post: 11 Toxic Habits You Should Quit Right Now

10. Seek Joy From Little Things In Life

This one might sound like an abstract idea, but it can totally be turned into a resolution.

Many of us often turn to bigger objects/ achievements in life for happiness.

In a way, these success points or big bashes are what drive us.

While looking at the bigger picture is all about being goal-driven, focusing on smaller things can bring immense gratification.

This is the kind of happiness you won’t be able to find anywhere else. The joy you get from a little balloon with a smiling face, cannot be found anywhere else.

Make use of little things in life to bring yourself instant joy, and create a healthy habit out of this.

You’ll need to do this consciously at first, but rest assured, if you keep pursuing happiness out of little things, you’ll master this habit by the end of the year.

11. Quit Your Bad Eating Habits

This is a must-have resolution for 2024. Bad eating habits are destructive to your gut health and could be the reason you’re stuck feeling unhealthy.

Your food makes up about 80% of your fitness, and the way you consume it can make all the difference in your lifestyle.

Here’s a list of eating habits you need to say no to this new year:

• Emotional eating
• Midnight snacking
• Skipping breakfast
• Eating meals at odd times
• Too much junk food
• Eating take-outs almost every day
• Binge-eating
• Eating too fast
• Consuming excess sugar

To break free of these habits, read: 9 Bad Eating Habits And How To Fix Them Effectively

12. Improve Your Sleep

Sleep is an essential part of your wellness routine. It keeps your body healthy and prepares you to look at your day through fresh eyes.

If you have trouble sleeping at night, find ways to counter this.

Work on reducing your stress levels, eat healthy, and start journaling to properly put your thoughts to bed.

If you’re someone who can sleep just fine but has an odd bedtime (sleeping late, waking up late, falling asleep in the middle of the day), then build a healthy bedtime routine.

And in case you happen to be someone with perfect sleeping habits, then work on improving the quality of your sleep.

There are always ways to sleep better at night, and you should make it a mission to get this thing right by the end of 2024.

13. Walk 10,000 Steps Everyday (5/7 Days A Week)

I would have loved to recommend you take on the 10,000 steps challenge for every day of 2024. But since I am not crazy, I won’t do that.

But think you can challenge yourself to walk 10,000 steps 5 days a week?

If yes, then go ahead and add this to your list.

And to see make this resolution successful, skim through these tips that might help:

• Invest in a fitness band, or use a fitness app to track your movements (keep your phone with you at all times while walking.)
• Stroll around your house for 10 minutes after every meal (each round should be roughly around 1000 steps.)
• Go for 40-minute evening/morning walks.
• Stay active throughout the day.

If 10,000 sounds overwhelming, feel free to adjust this number according to your schedule. Make it 4 days instead of 5 if the former sounds more realistic.

You might like: 10 Simple Ways To Become A Morning Person

14. Learn To Stay Calm

Being calm is an art in itself, and one every person should strive to master in their life.

If you manage to get this under your belt, you’d be like…invincible.

Seriously, in today’s hectic world, someone who has a high tolerance for stress inducers is no less than a superman/woman.

To learn calmness, you’d need to actively be aware of your emotional triggers and deal with them patiently.

I know my telling you to ‘start being calm’ won’t make it happen for you. But I’ve still got the work cut out for you.

Just head over to this post, and you’ll be good to go: How To Calm Yourself Down (10 Simple Ways That Work)

15. Adopt Healthy Food Habits

Remember my emphasis on the need to quit your bad eating habits?

Well, an equally important resolution you can make would be to adopt healthy food habits.

My friend, if you manage to succeed at this (which you undoubtedly can), you’d be on your merry way to a healthy life.

The 80/20 rule in the wellness world states that 20% of your fitness comes from exercising, and the rest 80% depends on your diet!

That pretty much sums up the importance of eating well and right.

These are some of the food habits you need to build in 2024:

• Slow and proper chewing
• One fruit every day
• A protein-rich breakfast
• Filling your plate with vegetables
• One detox day per week

For your ‘how-to’ guide on completing this resolution successfully, read: 8 Healthy Food Habits For A Beautiful Lifestyle

16. Meditation

Meditation can be truly life-changing for you.

From acting as a stress buster to being a mind-opener, the benefits of meditation are endless.

It’s such a vast realm that you can’t expect to learn it in a matter of a few days.

It can easily take you up to a year to properly understand what it’s even about. But the rewarding fruit will be sweet and well worth the wait.

That’s why, as a new year’s resolution, you can just promise yourself to meditate twice/thrice a week.

17. Exercise Five Times A Week

Many of you might not be fans of exercising. Perhaps you find it exhilarating, painful, and downright torturous.

The past-me (and sometimes, the present-me), can relate.

If you haven’t developed a liking for workouts, it can be hard to see it in a good light (despite being aware of the health benefits that come from regular exercise.)

But can we finally make 2024 the year we transform our thoughts on workouts? I say heck yeah!

Related: 5 Amazing Benefits Of Morning Exercise

You don’t have to sign up for a gym membership if you dislike the idea of it (because I don’t like it either).

Home workouts are absolutely fine to get your boat sailing.

Just head to Youtube and look for 30-minute workouts, and press play on the one that appeals to you.

No matter what’s going in on your life, step onto your exercise mat 5 times a week for the rest of the year.

Exercise should be regarded as a tribute to the heart. -Gene Tunney

Recommended: How To Motivate Yourself To Workout

18. Read 10 Non-Fiction Books This Year

Got a Goodreads account?

If not, then create one, because this year you’re going to make use of it.

There are so many great books out there, and it’ll seriously be a waste of your time to not get your hands on at least 10 of them every year.

This isn’t all that hard to achieve. If you read one book every month, you can easily tick this goal on your list of healthy New Year’s resolutions.

If you happen to be an avid fictional lover (like me), I encourage you to add non-fiction to your ‘to-read’ list for this year.

Try reading self-help books. They’ll help you gain a fresh perspective on life.

Some books I recommend for 2024:

• The Power Of Now
• The Motivation Manifesto
• Life’s Amazing Secrets
• Girl Wash Your Face
• You Can Win

19. Tune In To Your Emotions

Human emotions are considered complex.

They can be tiring to deal with, and more often than not, a person prefers avoiding them rather than facing them head-on.

But this year, it might be your chance to show your emotions some love and befriend them.

Doing so will strengthen you from within, and relax your mind on both professional and personal affairs.

You’ll be able to have better relationships with your loved ones, and have space for better things in life.

To ace this resolution, bookmark: How To Master Emotional Self-Care

20. Plant A Tree Every Month

Interested in adding to the greenery of the environment?

If yes, then please take up a resolution to plant at least one tree every month.

Sign up for an online program that helps you find a spot to plant trees, and also offers you any other assistance you might need.

You’ll be doing Mother Nature a kind favor, an act that will reward many living beings for years to come.

Even if you can’t plant every month, at least aim to go for 5 plants this year.

21. Complete All Your New Year’s Resolutions

Felt the need to add this one, because I’m sure we’ve all ditched a lot of our resolutions in the past.

Some amazing tips to tick off your healthy New Year’s resolutions in 2024:

• Keep track of your goals in a health journal.
• Use positive health affirmations to stay inspired.
• Change your mindset to adopt healthy living.
• Rely on discipline, not on motivation. The former is everlasting, while the latter is good for only a temporary boost.

Pick Your Favorites From This List Of Healthy New Year’s Resolutions

You don’t have to go for all 21 challenges (unless it seems like an achievable feat to you.)

It can be pressurizing and slightly unrealistic to get everything done in a year.

New Year isn’t about making huge transformations. You have a lifetime ahead to make those changes.

Set your resolutions mindfully, and have fun with them. But most importantly, have a healthy and happy new year.

Hope you get everything you want this year. 🙂

Alright now, it’s your time to share. Tell me about one of your healthy New Year’s resolutions, and I’ll share one of mine. Drop your answer in the comment box, and I’ll get back to you ASAP.