Take a fresh, holistic and new approach to the start of another year. And nourish your body instead of depriving it so you can truly enjoy the process of smashing your goals.

All the nutrition and wellness pieces you may have read might have made you nervous from last year. This will give you a simpler approach to living better in the new year.

6 ways to enjoy a healthy holistic year

1. Breathe

Breathing is one of the most important things we can do to help our body and mind relax, but it is often the first thing we forget to do. Whenever our body feels stressed, our innate reaction is to stop breathing.

Make a real effort to concentrate on your breath this year. Throughout your day, take deep breaths in through your nose and exhale through your mouth.

Adding deep breathing into your life will help your mind feel more at ease and help you avoid overeating. You will feel refreshed and sane throughout the day if you breathe more.

2. No guilt about enjoying good food

Guilt causes more weight gain than that extra piece of meat does. Think about it this way: When you are with the people you want to be spending time with and are enjoying your food, you leave feeling happy and nourished. But if you are not with the people you enjoy and you keep telling yourself that you will gain weight by eating too much, then you will. Let go of the guilt and your body and mind will thank you.

3. Say no

Permit yourself to skip some work and family events this year. You may love being social, but if being social leaves you with no time to do what you enjoy then it is okay to refuse some invitations. Remember that saying no to someone is a way of saying yes to yourself and your health.

4. Find your inner child

Life is supposed to be fun and holistic. If you are not in the fun-seeking spirit and are feeling stressed just thinking about work and other things, remember a time in your childhood when you were happy and carefree. See if you can tap into that feeling and use that emotion to bring you into a more jovial spirit. When we are having fun, our bodies can relax and keep the kilograms away.

5. Let go

Things are not supposed to be perfect! The more you can let go of your high expectations, the more fun you will have. If you are hosting an event this year, ask someone to help you. If you are the one who does all of the household shopping and cooking, split up the tasks. Learning to let go and ask for help is key to feeling healthy and calm.

6. Nourish yourself

When you skip your favorite foods, it only leaves you feeling unsatisfied and upset. Enjoying your favorite foods a few times during the year will not leave you heavier, but depriving yourself will leave you craving foods and overeating. It is fine to nourish yourself, especially around special moments. Just remember that these moments are usually only a few days out of the year.