There are so many ways to start off 2020, the way you begin January sets the tone for the rest of the year. At Marlow Beauty Lounge we’re not big on the strict January New Year’s Resolutions - dry January, strict diets, brutal exercise regimes - it’s not sustainable with 80% failing to stick by the end of January.

What we do recommend is prioritising you, changing your mindset, adding simple lifestyle tweaks each day, week, or month that will jumpstart a healthier body and mind. 

We’ve put together fresh ideas that will help calm you down and ease your stress, help your skin glow, and easy ways to squeeze a little more fitness into your busy days. 

Cook one new thing each week.

Everyone wants to eat healthier in the new year, but you should also try to eat more diverse foods. After all, variety is the spice of life. Choose something easy you’ve never tried before at least once a week. 

Eat fruit and veggies regularly.

Whether you're wanting to slim down or just stay healthy, fruit and vegetables are your friends. They’ll help you cut calories without going crazy. Winter citrus can help keep skin looking healthy thanks to vitamin C, which aids in collagen production. In fact, an American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study found that people who ate foods high in Vitamin C had fewer wrinkles and less age-related dry skin than those who didn't. Try clementine sections sprinkled with pistachios or sweet grapefruit dipped in Greek yogurt for a snack.

Chow down on blueberries and walnuts.

Blueberries and nuts have health superpowers: Blueberries have been shown to help people with metabolic syndrome (a cluster of conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and too much belly fat), and walnuts can help reduce cholesterol. Toss them on oatmeal or in a salad, eat up for a healthier 2020!

Drink up.

It's especially important to drink more water when you get only six hours of sleep (or less!). You’re more likely to be dehydrated the day after a short night of sleep. It’s all down to a hormone that regulates your body’s water conservation which is released in the later stages of sleep. Drink more especially on those days.

Swap Builders for Green.

Pop on the kettle and pour us a cuppa, because drinking green tea at least three times a week could be linked with a longer and healthier life. New research suggests habitual tea drinkers had a 20% lower risk of heart disease and stroke, potentially extending your life for a year and a half due to the high levels of polyphenols, which protect against cardiovascular disease. 

Take the stairs.

Take 10 minutes to run up the stairs. A study in the journal of Physiology & Behaviour found that tired women who climbed the stairs for 10 minutes got a bigger energy boost than those who had half a cup of coffee (and they burned calories too!).

Listen to novels while you work out.

Exercisers who saved an audiobook for the gym worked out 51% more often than those who didn't, per a study in Management Science. Sweat while listening to an intense thriller, and the treadmill time will fly by.

Switch up your routine.

Any exercise is good for you, but one study found that people who worked out in multiple ways were less likely to have shortened telomeres, the DNA segments on the ends of chromosomes that tend to break down as we age (longer telomeres are thought to be an indication that a body is aging slowly). Trying something new can boost memory skills and more, sign up for tai chi, Barre, HiiT classes, Pilates... the list is endless with so many choices.

Shop for workout clothes that make you feel good.

Spend the afternoon shopping for workout clothes that flatter your body: Studies show that what we wear affects the way we feel, which impacts our ability to get stuff done.

Meditate every day.

The benefits are endless (think better sleep, less stress and being more focus), but it can be hard to switch off your mind at first. Turn to devices and apps like Headspace, Calm, The Smiling Mind to get a jump-start. 

Try this trick for a better night's sleep.

Next time you have trouble nodding off, there’s a research-backed idea that could help: Take a warm bath. It helped people fall asleep about 10 minutes earlier and have better quality sleep. The best time to do it? About an hour or two before bedtime.

Treat yourself to affordable facials.

General recommendation is to have a professional facial about every four weeks. That’s how long it takes your skin to move through the full life cycle of skin cell growth and exfoliation. A facial helps that process along. The treatment will keep your skin clean, clear, toned and maintain that beautiful glow all month long.

Give yourself more compliments.

Positive self-talk can help you focus on what's good in your life, can make you feel happier and more satisfied and even improve your sleep.

 Play upbeat music.

Blasting any happy-making tune can work multiple mind-body wonders including reducing pain during exercise, elevating your mood, and lowering stress. Make a playlist with songs you love. 

Read more books.

January is the perfect time of year to snuggle up with a new book. Open a Goodreads account and review each book you read. By next year, you'll have a clear snapshot of how well you accomplished this goal.

 Become a plant owner, improve air quality.

Just the presence of indoor plants can lower human stress levels. One study found that actively caring for plants calmed the autonomic nervous system and lowered blood pressure. And when people work near plants, they report greater concentration, satisfaction, and perceived air quality.

Plan a holiday.

Women who holiday at least twice a year have a lower heart attack risk than those who don’t. Researchers have found that even thinking about an upcoming trip can boost happiness for weeks.

Explore new hobbies.

Another sleepy Sunday? Today's the day to try something new, find a new hobby — whatever feels fun. When researchers followed 7,500 people for 25 years, they found that those who complained of major boredom were roughly twice as likely to die from heart disease.

Do one thing at a time.

Multitasking doesn't make you more efficient, but it does stress you out. If your focus is fragmented, you'll likely find yourself getting anxious as new items come up when old ones are still incomplete. Instead, organize your activities into chunks of time, and then commit to being focused in those allotted minutes.

Get artsy.

To help ward off the blues, engage in a bit of culture—a trip to a museum or art gallery, a night at the theatre, or attending a concert. A new study found that people who make regular trips to these types of attractions have a lower risk of developing depression than those who don’t.

Make your home more fragrant.

Because smell is associated with the parts of the brain that process emotion and store memories, certain aromas can affect mood. Research shows that vanilla makes people more relaxed and joyful, while peppermint can boost energy and lavender can zap stress.

This year, it's time to put you first!