Two-thirds of the public (66%) set themselves New Year’s resolutions, which equates to around 35 million adults.
It’s all been done before. January rolls around after a few weeks of Christmas excess, and it’s time to hit the gym and enter the “eat healthy” mindset from now on.
In 2024, the January detox can revolve around improving your life in other ways, from less tech to your mental health. Electric heating company Fischer Future Heat has compiled a list of alternative detoxes that allow you to keep the running shoes at home just a little bit longer.
Technological
It’s difficult to escape the glare of a screen in the 21st century. If it’s not on TV, it’s a computer; if it’s not a computer, it’s a mobile phone.
Users in the UK spend an average of 2 hours, 55 minutes per day, on their desktops and 2 hours, 52 minutes per day on their mobile devices. Daily screen time has increased by nearly 50 minutes per day since 2013. That is a lot of doomscrolling.
Studies have shown a correlation between excessive screen time and increased levels of anxiety and depression.
By reducing screen time and allocating that time to activities like exercise, reading, or spending quality time with loved ones, you may experience improved mental health and well-being – Even limiting the use of screens by 1 hour a day improves the quality of sleep and increases happiness.
Taking frequent breaks from the screen can help to avoid tired eyes and headaches. The 20, 20, 20 rule suggests taking a break of at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes and looking at least 20 feet away.
Go eco-friendly
15% of the 2023 resolutions were about wanting to do more for the environment. The warming climate is one of the most critical events facing the world today. Temperatures are continuing to creep upwards, and with the powers at hand struggling to come to an agreement on how to limit the use of dangerous fossil fuels, the earth might have already passed the point of no return.
Start off 2024 by making environmentally friendly changes to your lifestyle, whether it’s taking the plunge and switching out the gas systems in the home or adopting a more plant-based diet. Heat pumps can be up to 400% efficient, meaning that for every unit of energy consumed, a heat pump will generate four times that amount!
Keith Bastian of Fischer Future Heat says: “We are all attempting to do better, but there are other avenues than just health or fitness. This, of course, requires a change in mindset. The same goes for when we look at the environment. Starting the year off by making these changes, big or small, is a great way to set up a positive and eco-conscious mindset for the year ahead.”
Mental health
The good news about January is that the days finally start to get longer again. Enduring months of waking up in darkness and going home in darkness take their toll on collective mental health.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) affects around 2 million people in the UK and more than 12 million people across northern Europe. It can affect people of any age, including children.
Moving away from segregatory behaviours can have a massive positive effect on well-being.
During the pandemic, 8 in 10 adults took up a new hobby during lockdown to boost their mental or physical health. The same approach can be taken whilst the nights still loom large, as on a whole, most of the time is spent indoors
Starting off the year with something new has also been shown to reduce stress levels. For instance, one study showed approximately 75% of participants’ cortisol levels (stress) were lowered after making art! Even if the inner artist isn’t flourishing, those with zero ability still see positive results.
Just do it, but don’t be too hard on yourself
When the clock chimes over to 1st January, it signifies a reset in the brain. The “fresh start effect” is a psychological phenomenon that refers to the increased motivation and renewed energy that people often feel at the start of a new time-based milestone. Past performances no longer matter, and it’s a clean slate.
Exercise and improving fitness always find themselves at the top of the New Year’s resolution list, with health rounding off the top three places.
43% said they plan to lose weight, and the same proportion resolved to improve their diet.
However, according to the YouGov survey which took the opinions of 2000 participants, 35% of people who made resolutions managed to stick to all of their goals, but 43% of people expect to give up their goal after just one month.
Not being too hard on missing a day of dieting, going to the gym, or practising veganism isn’t going to ruin all the progress in 2024 as a whole. Keith Bastian continues: “Breaking down large goals into smaller steps offers a larger chance of success. Aim for a week, then a month; building those small victories is a proven track for success.”
