NJ Cops Jan19 | Page 74

HEALTH & WELLNESS Rewarding New Year’s resolutions HEALTHY LIVING TIPS FROM As every new year starts, many of us make all kinds of promises: “Starting today, things are going to be different!” There was the “old 2018 self” and now the promise of the “new, improved 2019 self.” We tell ourselves that the 2019 self will be different — we’ll stop procrasti- nating, exercise more and, for sure, we won’t mindlessly eat the unhealthy stuff. Unfortunately, come mid-January, the promised “new self” program doesn’t appear so alluring, and after a few more weeks of crashing against reality and old habits, the “new self” ideal becomes a wishful memory. So, how is 2019 going to be a better year? Let’s start with the mindset: You can make some simple changes that are worth incorporating into your life for a positive impact on your health, peace of mind and outlook on life.Try a few of these: • Go for a walk every day — and think about adopting a shelter dog to walk with you. • Before you sit down to eat, be mindful of portion control. Put those leftovers in the refrigerator to help keep your- self from going for that second helping. • Especially important: Get on a solid sleep schedule and 74 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ JANUARY 2019 • • • keep it, aiming for eight hours of sleep each night. • Turn off your phone and other devic- es when enjoying meals with family or friends. • Give yourself an extra 15 minutes in the morning to prepare and eat a good breakfast, like eggs (organic, if possible), oatmeal with fruit or a green smoothie. Add more exercise to your day by taking the stairs and walking the longer route, and look for opportunities when you can swap out the car for your bicycle or a brisk walk. Make healthy exchanges when you can — try soy or al- mond milk for dairy, and brush on olive or coconut oil instead of butter and margarine. Tackle that bookmarked DIY project that caught your eye. For an appointment with a Deborah specialist or more informa- tion about how Deborah Heart and Lung Center’s leading-edge technologies can improve your quality of life: call 800-555-1990 or visit www.demanddeborah.org.