‘New year, new you’ is old news. Instead, professionals recommend adding small changes and tweaks to your lifestyle to create achievable new lifestyle habits. Here’s how to do it.

Pic credit: Twillostory

Podcast favourite Dr Rangan Chatterjee says ‘Don’t practice the habit of delaying. Practice the habit of starting. Why not start today?!’. Very sound advice, and something you can apply across different habits in your lifestyle, below. 

Nail biting

Biting your nails is a habit that’s formed, and one that can be stopped by taking care of your nails, and baby steps to work towards stopping biting. This tutorial takes you through the steps, day by day, to successfully breaking the biting habit. The can’t-live-without product that gives you a huge helping hand is Mavala STOP. It has a harmless, bitter taste, and can be applied without or over your nail colour, and really puts you off biting your nails.

MAVALA STOP	MAVALA STOP PEN

Skincare

What’s your approach to your skincare? Do you feel you want to be more prescriptive? Or streamline your routine? Experts agree that adding a serum into your routine is one of the most effective things you can do, aside from using daily sunscreen. Mavala have a serum for every skin care concern. Determine the one that suits your needs the best on this page – from helping skin density and elasticity, to boosting skin radiance, or reducing the look of wrinkles – apply after cleansing and before your moisturiser or sunscreen.

Exercise

‘Don’t try and do everything all at once, otherwise you get overwhelmed and won’t continue’, says Jo Rolfe, Qualified Personal Trainer, Movement and Lifestyle Coach. ‘Start with one thing and make that one thing a habit. It could be – one day a week I’m going to get up early and see the sunrise and have a walk. Great for getting those first rays of sunshine and helping your circadian rhythm’.

Pic credit: Little Manly Photography

Nail and hand care

This one is super easy. If you’ve got a tube of hand cream beside your bed, you can’t help but use it. If it’s at the back of the cupboard, it’s not going to get a look in. Experts suggest tying in a new habit with something you already do, so if it means leaving it next to your toothbrush so you use it straight afterwards, go for it – whatever is going to make it work for you.

Down time

Is your relaxation or down time scrolling away the minutes and hours on your phone? If it is and you want to break the habit, try setting a timer for five minutes, put your phone somewhere else, and just sit, or chat with your family or do something that you wouldn’t usually do.