New Year could mean new you

As the Surf Coast and Bellarine ring in the New Year, VicHealth has put together some handy tips to help improve health and wellbeing in 2018.

While it’s not easy to make and maintain New Year’s resolutions, there are some simple steps towards making lifelong healthy changes.

1. Cut back on sugar – you’re sweet enough
While it can be especially hard to steer clear of treats during the festive season, one simple way to avoid excess sugar is to swap sugary drinks for water. Living on the Surf Coast, visits to the beach are a common occurrence, making drinking water even more imperative to stay hydrated. Why not jazz up H20 by infusing it with some cucumber, mint and lemon?

2. Make exercise a part of the holidays
You don’t need to spend hours at the gym – try parking the car at the far end of a car park, challenge family and friends to a game of cricket, or visit the many local beach or walking tracks along the Surf Coast and Bellarine.

3. Don’t pass the salt
Salt increases the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and stroke. To cut back on salt intake fill up on fresh fruit and vegies. Victorians on average eat less than half of the recommended five serves of veggies a day. Visit one of the many local fresh produce stores across the region, such as the newly opened Peach’s in Torquay.

4. Stress less
Stress can impact physical health, increase the chance of illness and impact mental wellbeing. Take some time out these holidays to read a book, go for a run, listen to music or just sit in a park. There are a variety of meditation and yoga sessions available on local beaches this summer.

5. Support the girls
One of the highlights of 2017 has been the explosion in women’s sport. From the kickoff of the AFLW, the women’s cricket team bringing home the Ashes, to the Matildas absolutely dominating on the world-stage it’s been a historic year for women in sport. Support your local women’s teams this summer or give a sport a go.