Did you know that it takes between 18 and 254 days to form a habit, but on average 66 days for a habit to become automatic. This is according to https://www.verywellmind.com/. As we step into a new year, many of us look forward to starting new and healthy habits and we do so with every intention of making those habits stick. New Year resolutions are like a personal reset, a way to make improvements, and a reason to let go of any baggage from the past year. At Teeny Greeny, we look forward to the new year, to new beginnings, to fresh opportunities, to healthy resets, and to reflecting on our learnings from the previous year. I thought it was a good time to share some habits that I hope to form in the new year and beyond.
Plant an indoor garden
Of course this is going to be our number one healthy habit. But growing microgreens on your kitchen windowsill couldn’t be easier. Whether you are growing your greens in tins, in bamboo trays, or in your own container, we guarantee our seeds will germinate. All you need to do is follow the instructions found on our website and sit back and watch them grow. If you time things right, you can have a constant supply of microgreens, and your body and mind will feel happier for the effort. Growing plants indoors, particularly in the winter months is beneficial for you mind and your health. Tending to your little plants takes little effort but is such a mindful exercise. And let’s not forget all the healthy vitamins, minerals, polyphenols and overall nutrition that can be found in every microgreen variety.
Eat the rainbow
Leading on nicely from our number one healthy habit, eating the rainbow has become a bit of a buzz phrase in 2024 and that’s because of the phytonutrients found in fruit and vegetables. According to Harvard Health, adding a variety of colours to your meals is not only good for your health but could help you live longer. Phytonutrients give plants their taste, smell and colour. Their purpose is to protect the plants and strengthen their immune system. In turn, when we eat them, they protect our immune systems. Each colour of fruit and vegetable has its own signature health benefit and eating the rainbow allows us to ingest a wide range of essential nutrients which in turn will strengthen our immune systems and allow us a much better gut diversity. Microgreens are also a great addition to the rainbow, from green peas to purple radish, we’ve got you covered. Eating the rainbow will also make your plate look incredible which is good for the mind.
Walk or wheel outdoors
Let’s face it, when it’s blowing a gale and the rain is coming down sideways, no-one likes going out for a jaunt. But did you know that walking or wheeling can help digest your food. Not only that, walking/wheeling outdoors is beneficial for your mental health and can help with depression. And let’s not forget, that walking/wheeling is exercise, which is good for the body, the mind and is excellent for good heart health. Walking is a great activity to do with friends and many towns and villages have walking groups. But lone walking can also help us solve problems like – what microgreens am I going to put on my rainbow tonight?
Practice gratitude – say thank you – say I love you
There is never a bad time to start practising gratitude. In 2024, I (Kirsty) found myself going through an incredibly tough time, my marriage broke down and I moved out of my home, gave up my job and moved in with friends. I hit rock bottom. Our lovely Alice sent me a book that changed my life. The book taught me how to count my blessings each morning and give gratitude and love, even when my mood was incredibly low. In 28 days, my mood had changed significantly, and I now practice daily. I give thanks to the air that I breathe, to my health, to my friends, to strangers in the street. It’s not always easy, but there is always something to give thanks for. You can write gratitude in a journal and make a habit of writing what you are grateful for each day. This is a great mindful habit and so beneficial for your mental health. So, why not find a quiet space, light a candle and set a timer, then just write.
Meditate
There is a misconception about meditation that you need to empty your mind in order to practice, or reach a particular state, or travel to another plain. This is not the case. Meditation is the practice of present moment awareness without judgement. Meditation is beneficial for your mental health; can reduce anxiety and help you sleep. According to Verywellmind, meditation can alter the structure of your brain, its function and chemistry. It can help improve mood, attention, memory, pain, and regulate blood pressure. I’ve practiced mindfulness meditation for many years and the benefits are wonderful. Even spending twenty minutes a day can make a difference to your mood and sleep. Insight Timer is a wonderful free app that has many great guided meditations that can help you get started.
Read
According to BBC, reading for 30 minutes a week is good for your mental health. ‘Reading for pleasure has been found to improve our confidence and self-esteem, providing the grounding we need to pursue our goals and make life decisions. It can also aid our sleep and reduce feelings of loneliness.’ Why is reading good for me? - BBC Teach. Reading is a great way to escape, a way to learn and a way to improve concentration. And there are so may good books out there, so many new characters to meet and worlds to be explored. So put the phone on silent, put your slippers on and make a cuppa, there a book waiting for you.
Dance
Why not spend ten minutes a day dancing to your favourite tunes. Make up a playlist of your favourite songs and dance like no-one is watching. Dance with your spouse, dance with your kids, dance with the dogs, everyone will love it. Dancing releases endorphins that can make you feel comfort, relaxation and fun. Dancing is great exercise for your muscles, for your heart and burns calories. Dance when you are washing the dishes, dance when you are ironing, dance while you’re waiting for the kettle to boil before you sit down with a good book. You get my drift.
Laugh out loud
This might seem like a strange habit to form but laughter really is the best medicine. Did you know that laughter can help reduce pain and reduce stress levels? Laughter stimulates your heart and lung muscles, enhances your oxygen intake, increases endorphins, increases antibody producing cells, and makes you feel magic. But how can you actively make laughter a habit? Firstly, spend time with friends, the people that you feel the most relaxed with are the ones who make you laugh the most. Observe people when you are out and about, have you ever noticed how strange human beings really are? Watch things on TV that you find funny. Podcasts can also be a great laugh, ask your friends which ones they like best.
Drink more water
Drinking enough water is one of the best things we can do for our health, yet most of us don’t drink enough. There is a lot of information on the web as to how much water we should be drinking and I’m no expert, but NHS suggests between 6 – 8 cups of fluids per day. Drinking more water can benefit your health in many ways, such as lubricating your joints, clearing up up your skin, it cushions the brain, spinal cord and tissues, regulates body temperature, helps you digest your food, prevents kidney stones, flushes out waste, it makes minerals and nutrients accessible, prevents dehydration and much much more. You can buy reusable bottles in supermarkets and online so that you can access water when you’re on the move. Filling a bottle also reminds you to take a drink and keep track of what you are drinking.
Sleep
Most adults need between 7 – 9 hours of sleep per night but how often and how regular do we get the sleep that we need? There are so many factor that impact our sleep schedule negatively such as work, social media, pain, menopause, stress and anxiety, kids, illness, the list goes on. Finding a good sleep routine and maintaining it takes work but is worth it if we stick to it. Getting enough sleep is good for your health because it allows your brain and body to recover. This ensures you feel alert and refreshed when you wake. Adequate sleep improves mood, helps with cognitive function such as learning and long-term memory function. One of my healthy habits for 2025 is to get enough sleep, so that means less screen time before bed, practising regular meditation and eating earlier. I love a good sleep, don’t you?
I hope you enjoyed our top 10 habits that you can try in 2025. I will be following these, I hope you give a few of them a go.
Happy New year and all the best for 2025