Putting yourself first is not selfish; it’s essential for your well-being and growth. You don’t need to do all of these steps, but integrating even a few into your life can make a meaningful difference.

Here’s a streamlined plan to help you make 2025 your healthiest year yet.

1. Support Your Partner’s Healthy Choices by Joining Them
   If your partner wants to change their diet or lifestyle, support them by participating. Shared goals foster accountability and success.
2. Eat Mindfully
   Slow down during meals, chew thoroughly, and ensure you swallow each bite before raising your fork again. This encourages proper digestion and helps you recognise fullness. Ask yourself if you need to finish everything on your plate each time.
3. View Physical Activity as Hygiene
   Think of exercise as you do brushing your teeth — a non-negotiable part of daily self-care. Find a form of exercise you enjoy.
4. Hydrate First Thing in the Morning
   Start your day with two glasses of water to rehydrate after sleep and energise your body.
5. Make Decisions Based on How You Want to Feel
   Your current feelings may not guide the best choices. Instead, align your actions with how you’d like to feel later.
6. Optimise Meal Proportions
   Build meals with a balanced 1:1 ratio of protein to carbohydrates. This can help stabilise energy and support your goals.
7. Prioritise Sleep
   Go to bed 20 minutes earlier each night. Across a week, this adds up to over two extra hours of restorative sleep.
8. Prepare Meals in Advance
   Set aside two hours each week for food preparation. Having goal-aligned meals ready removes decision fatigue and supports consistency.
9. Experiment with New Recipes
   Try a new recipe every couple of weeks. Expanding your palate and culinary skills can keep eating well enjoyable.
10. Reframe Negative Feelings
    Remember that “feeling yuk” is just a passing emotion. Moving your body or choosing a goal-aligned meal can shift this perspective quickly. The main goal being to feel good in yourself.
11. Embrace Small Wins
    A short, 10-minute workout is better than skipping exercise altogether. Consistency outweighs perfection.
12. Enhance Sleep with Evening Carbs
    If you’re struggling to sleep and follow a low-carb diet, add a small portion of starchy carbohydrates like kumara to your evening meal.
13. Adjust Family Meals to Your Goals
    Focus on tailoring your breakfast and lunch to your plan. For dinner, join the family’s routine. Progress isn’t about perfection; it’s about persistence and consistency.
14. Stick to Long-Term Goals
    Approach diet and exercise with a year-long perspective. Sustainable changes take time but deliver lasting results.
15. Reconnect with Your Why Daily
    Not everyone will support your journey, and that’s okay. Stay grounded in your reasons for change and revisit them regularly to stay motivated.

By incorporating these steps into your routine, you’ll create a solid foundation for lasting self-prioritisation and health throughout 2025.