LIFESTYLE
Tips for Navigating the New Year
As we shift from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and settle into the new year, healthy habits can help you stay resilient. Below are five ways to maintain a sense of calm and conquer stress as you transition into 2023.
1. Connect With People Who Bring You Joy
In-person connection can reduce stress and boost your sense of well-being. Socializing improves your quality of life, your cognition, and reduces the risk of health threats like dementia, heart disease, and stroke.1,2 Staying connected with others – whether meeting for dinner or a quick coffee – can be a form of self-care and help bring joy.
Hosting a wine night is a great way to get friends together. Morgan Stanley Reserved Living & Giving members receive 20% off purchases from YourWineStore, plus $10 flat ground shipping. From their vineyards to your doorstep, they make it easy for you to explore crafted wines.
2. Stick to an Exercise Schedule
Ample evidence shows exercise can help you feel and function better. Even small amounts may boost your overall health and reduce the risk of many diseases.3
Whether at-home or in-person at the gym, sticking to a regular workout routine will help keep your year-end stress at bay. Technogym offers smart, home gym equipment, digital services, on-demand training experiences with access to a completely personalized training experience anytime and anywhere. Morgan Stanley Reserved Living & Giving members get access to exclusive deals on memberships and equipment.
Enhance your workouts with Therabody’s popular range of Theragun products, percussive therapy devices that offer deep muscle relief. Morgan Stanley Reserved Living & Giving members receive 20% off all Theragun devices and accessories.
3. Establish a Meditation Routine
Meditating regularly may help you stay calm and balanced as you adjust to this new season.4 Prioritizing this practice, which focuses on breathing and mindfulness, can be the key to managing your growing to-do list. Meditation comes in many forms, but most require four primary elements: a quiet location, a comfortable posture, focused attention and an open attitude. Canyon Ranch offers insights on stress management, prioritizing sleep, everyday habits to wellness and more in a series of short videos.
You can also work mindfulness into your day with the help of a meditation app. Morgan Stanley Reserved Living & Giving members get $40 off a one-year subscription to Calm, which includes a 10-minute meditation called “The Daily Calm.”
4. Get Enough Sleep
Stress may cause insomnia and the resulting sleep deprivation can contribute to the cycle of stress. Lack of sleep may lead to a range of issues like fatigue, depression and unfocused concentration.5
To promote a more restful night, try avoiding caffeine and large meals before bedtime. Create a sleeping space that is comfortable, dark and free of distractions like electronics such as televisions and smartphones.
Try a weighted blanket to help with insomnia and anxiety. The cortisol-reducing effect of a weighted blanket can dramatically reduce these symptoms and help with relaxation. Morgan Stanley Reserved Living & Giving members receive 35% off all Hush weighted blanket and sleep products.
You can also precisely monitor your sleep with the Oura Ring. With its advanced, research-grade sensors, this wearable device provides state-of-the-art heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), personalized temperature, activity, and sleep monitoring technology to help you make better decisions to improve your health and wellbeing. Morgan Stanley Reserved Living & Giving members receive $30 off Oura Rings as well as a complimentary one-month subscription.
5. Turn to Professionals
It’s natural to feel stress and anxiety in challenging times.6 These feelings may worsen with the added stress of the recent holiday season. If you continue to struggle with mental health issues, talk to a professional therapist or psychiatrist for support.
Looking for a more intensive health tune-up? The Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program provides a comprehensive program with personalized sessions from lifestyle and wellness coaches. Morgan Stanley Reserved Living & Giving members have access to exclusive virtual events featuring advice from their lifestyle experts.
The Bottom Line
We are bound to face some stress and anxiety as we transition into the new year. Take the time to establish and prioritize healthy habits to set yourself up for success!
Sources
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions,” April 29, 2021
2 National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). “Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System, 2020,” 2020
3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Physical Activity Basics,” March 17, 2022
4 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, “Meditation: In Depth,” June 2022
5 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Sleep and Health,” May 29, 2019
6 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Impact of Stress,” April 29, 2022
Disclosures
This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. It is not meant to treat and or diagnose any medical situation. Please contact your medical professional with questions and concerns.
Information contained herein is based on data from multiple sources considered to be reliable and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of data from sources outside of Morgan Stanley.
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