Incorporate these fast, effective strategies and watch your life improve! Your New Year resolutions can happen any day.⁣ ⁣ 1. Fill your plate with 75% non-starchy veggies. ⁣ ⁣ Ideally, about 75 percent of your carb intake should come from mostly non-starchy veggies and some low-glycemic fruits. By volume, most of your plate should be carbs. Note I said volume, not calories. Many plant-based carbs actually have very few calories.⁣ ⁣ 2. Go all-out with 7 minutes of intense exercise. ⁣ ⁣ High-intensity interval training, or HIIT, involves working at the very top end of your capacity for 45 – 60 seconds, then recovering for 3 minutes by walking or a slow jog, then returning to very high intensity for another 45 – 60 seconds. Don’t let the short time fool you: You’ll see significant fitness gains very quickly. The New York Times has a great 7-minute app to do HIIT you can use. ⁣ ⁣ 3. Practice sleep hygiene. ⁣ ⁣ Going to sleep and waking at the same time each day creates a rhythm for your body. Don’t keep a television in your bedroom: Studies show the artificial, bright light can disrupt brain activity and alter sleep hormones like melatonin. Here’s an easy way to fall asleep more efficiently. About an hour before bed, put your phone to bed. And all electronics for that matter. Find a relaxation technique (it could even be a hot bath) that helps you drift into a deep sleep.⁣ ⁣ 4. Do a 2-minute meditation in the morning and evening. ⁣ ⁣ This makes a great way to begin and end your day. The effects of chronic high cortisol and other stress hormones on our brains depletes brain power and leaves us tired, sick, and fat. You don’t need 30 minutes of meditation or an hour-long yoga class to lower those stress hormones. A 2-minute breathing practice, yoga, or meditation exercise can do wonders for your mind and body. ⁣ ⁣ 5. Cultivate community. ⁣ ⁣ Friend power, not willpower, is the key to success with your health goals. Conversely, when you shift focus and prioritize your friends, family, and coworkers, you deepen your connection with them and feel more fulfilled. Sometimes those connections might feel uncomfortable, but they’re worth it. ⁣