Every year on 1st of January, I make a resolution to keep myself active and healthy but it usually lasts for 2 to 3 days. This year is a special one for me as I became a grandma which brought a lot of happiness and joy in my life. I thought I have to do something good for myself and decided to change my lifestyle and stick with the plan.

I start my day by drinking a full glass of water. After fasting all night, drinking a full glass of water helps to hydrate our cells and eases our tummy for the loo. Anyway, water is good for our health and so I adapted my daily routine with this change. I also started to keep a water bottle next to me to remind myself to drink regularly.

The second change I made in my lifestyle was to do regular exercises which help me feel energized and improve my sleep and general wellbeing. Initially I was forcing myself to go to the gym, but I found it difficult to keep going on a regular basis. Walking regularly was also tough as the weather is not always favourable. Then I discovered that doing yoga and Pilates at home is a sustainable way to exercise regularly. This helped me to gain physical, mental and emotional benefits and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I also took a close look at what I was eating. As a vegetarian on an Indian diet, my nutrients largely come from lentils, wholemeal bread (Chapattis), salad, and fruits. I choose to drink water instead of fruit juices or other fizzy drinks…