10 New Year’s resolutions for healthier eyes in 2024

A new year is an excellent opportunity to start afresh and work towards your goals. Now that we have reached 2024, we are all starting to think about how we can get back into a healthy routine. What positive changes are you hoping to make this year? Feel inspired to introduce healthier habits into your lifestyle and protect your eyesight for the future. Your vision is a valuable gift that should be nurtured. There are various simple steps you can take that will leave your eyes feeling refreshed. If you’re looking for inspiration when it comes to New Year’s resolutions, then focusing on keeping your eyes healthy is a good place to start.

Introduce healthier eating habits

If you want to know how to improve your eye health, it goes without saying that eating well-balanced meals is a great place to start. Motivate yourself to stick to your post-Christmas diet and enjoy healthier nutritional options. Foods for healthy eyes include those full of vitamins, A, C and E, as well as omega-3 fatty acids. Making small changes to your diet will benefit your eye health greatly. Eat plenty of fruit and veg and give yourself a well-deserved boost. Make sure you’re getting the right balance of nutrients whilst preparing meals that you can still enjoy and love! A few simple changes are a great start on your road to success.

Drink plenty of water

Make sure you keep your body hydrated. This is extremely important for maintaining good health. Whatever your New Year’s resolutions, you should try your best to drink at least two litres of water a day. Our tip would be for you to buy a big reusable bottle and fill it with water. That way it is accessible to you throughout the day so you’re more likely to keep taking sips. This is an easy way to encourage yourself to drink more. Better still, set reminders on your phone and use this time to take a break and have a glass of water. If you’re not drinking enough water, your body will stop producing an adequate amount of tears and your eyes will not be fully lubricated. This can lead to dry eyes, fatigue and eye strain.

Book an appointment with your optician

It is essential that you book regular eye tests so that a professional optometrist can determine how healthy your eyes are. As New Year’s resolutions go, this could be one of the most important. An eye examination is not just for getting a new prescription but it can also help to detect early signs of other health conditions. It is a very important medical check that most adults are recommended to attend every two years. Some individuals may be asked to come back more frequently. This is certainly the case for those over the age of 70, people with diabetes and those suffering from glaucoma. If you want to find out more about why regular eye tests are so vital, our Ask the Optician video explains it in more depth. Our qualified optician, David Hutchfield explains the importance of eye exams to your health.

Ask your family about their own eye health

Taking the time to talk to your family about their own experiences is a great way to build your awareness. Many eye conditions are linked to your genetics and can be passed on along the family. Age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma are all diseases that can be hereditary. Get familiar with and build your knowledge around your family’s eye health and medical history. Speak to your optician so they are aware and can potentially spot any initial signs of specific diseases early on.

Carry out your own research

Knowledge is power as they say! Even if there is no history of any medical issues in your family, it is still a good idea to educate yourself about the most common eye conditions. Make it a priority in 2024 to learn about the symptoms, causes and treatments for certain diseases. This will help you identify any changes in your sight and could potentially mean that you spot any eye conditions or other health problems early. It may even help you to prevent or manage them in time. Make this one of your New Year’s resolutions.

Get a good night’s sleep

A peaceful night’s sleep can do wonders for your eye health. During sleep, your body replenishes tears and your eyes cleanse themselves of any irritants like dust and pollen. Ideally, you should be getting seven hours of sleep every night so that you’re well-rested both mentally and physically. Your eyes need a minimum of five hours of sleep each night so that they can recuperate. If you only have six hours, your eyes won’t have adequate time to recover and will be functioning on the bare minimum of recuperation time. This is not ideal, especially when you’re fatigued from working long hours on a computer, scrolling through videos on your phone, or driving long distances. Your eyes may also start to feel dry and uncomfortable when in an air-conditioned or heated environment. All of these factors mean it’s even more essential that you get a decent night’s sleep.

Try to plan your day out as meticulously as possible so that in the evening you can unwind before bedtime. Enjoy a relaxing bath, read a book, or perform light yoga — anything that calms you down and helps you to relax. This could be one of the best New Year’s resolutions you ever made. After all, who doesn’t love to unwind after a busy day?

Take regular breaks and go for a walk

Life can be hectic sometimes and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. It doesn’t matter whether you work remotely, are in the office a few times a week, or your everyday routine constantly keeps you rushed off your feet. Before you know it, you’ve got to the end of the day without a break. Yet, this can be truly detrimental to your eye health. Taking regular breaks will allow you the time to go for a walk. You’ll be able to breathe in the fresh air and also fit a healthy amount of exercise into your routine. It really doesn’t matter whether you’re making that bit of effort to head a little further to the shop down the road, you’re taking your dog for a walk or motivating yourself with a peaceful stroll in the park. Either way, committing to two or three little walks a day could really shape up your routine and give your eyes time to rest.

Maintain healthy hand hygiene

Keeping your hands clean and sanitized is a simple yet effective solution to good eye health. This is particularly important if you wear contact lenses or often apply makeup around your eyes. It is vital that you thoroughly clean your hands before touching your lenses or putting your hands near your eyes. Aim to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds so that the majority of bacteria and germs are washed away. This will then mean you avoid infecting your eyes when your hands are in contact with them.

Organise your cosmetics

Make it part of your routine to regularly check your cosmetics and ensure they are still safe to use. Little particles of makeup can easily get into your eyes and result in redness and irritation. Also, if you accidentally scratch your eye with a brush or pencil which is infected this can seriously impact your sight. Be aware that products you apply around your eyes expire more quickly and can become contaminated with harmful bacteria. You need to be especially careful with mascara and eyeliner. Normally, it is recommended that mascara and liquid liners only be used for as little as three to four months. Make a note of when you last purchased certain items so that you can replace them every few months. If for Christmas, you were lucky enough to receive a new make-up collection then this is a great time to freshen up your cosmetics. Better still, if you have a shopping voucher, why not invest in some shiny new beauty products?

New glasses for the new you

A New Year certainly sparks a strong sense of inspiration. If you’re looking to transform your look this 2024 then a new pair of glasses could be exactly the New Year’s resolution you need to make. Perhaps your current glasses are a little worn and in need of an upgrade. Or did you recently get a new prescription? Perhaps you just felt like embracing a new sense of style and positivity. Whatever the case may be, you can easily find a pair (or two!) that complements your face shape. Visit our site and browse our latest arrivals.

At Glasses Direct, we have an exciting range of shapes, colours and styles for you to choose from. Find the perfect pair of glasses to suit the new you this 2024! If you’re still unsure and need some guidance, visit our help me choose page to learn how to shop online, what price ranges we offer and find frames that are the right size for you.

We hope these ideas were handy and gave you some ideas for your own New Year’s resolutions. Making small lifestyle changes can be really beneficial to your health and will help your body to feel renewed and refreshed.