As the saying goes ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’. Prioritising your health not only keeps you in shape, but also helps prevent hefty medical bills, like doctor’s or hospital visits and pharmacy runs. What’s more, revamping your wellbeing with a detox is a great boost for the new year.

Don’t worry, though, this doesn’t have to be a pricey process. Try these affordable ways to detox and cleanse.

Cut down on alcohol

If you went a little overboard during the festive season, an alcohol detox is definitely in order. Drinking too much alcohol can harm your liver by causing a build-up of toxins. It could also lower your liver’s ability to detoxify (remove waste). If cutting out alcohol completely isn’t possible, stick to the recommended daily limit of two drinks or less a day for men and one drink or less a day for women. Your body and your wallet will thank you since alcohol can be expensive!

Catch some Zs

You need enough sleep for your body to run smoothly. Enough shuteye also ensures that your body detoxes when needed and helps prevent health issues from developing. If you struggle to sleep, try these tricks:

• Follow a sleep schedule (e.g. sleeping at the same time every night).
• Use apps like Sleep Cycle and Headspace, which have features like relaxing sounds, sleep tracking and guided meditation.
• Ditch devices like your phone or laptop at least two hours before bed.

Axe processed food and sugar

Packaged meals, drinks and treats are delicious and convenient, but they are packed with salt and sugar. Too much sugar, for example in fizzy drinks, can slow down your body’s detox system. These foods are often more expensive than fresh food too. For example, a packet of bananas (753g) costs around R16.99, whereas a big slab of chocolate (150g) can cost up to R31.99 or more, depending on the brand you choose and where you make your purchase.

Try to fuel your body with whole, nutritious foods instead. This means mostly choosing foods that you have to cook from scratch. Use an app like MyFitnessPal, which helps you track your food and comes with free healthy recipes and even workouts. Lastly, swap flavoured drinks for water with sliced fruit or lemon juice.

Take regular screen breaks

From scrolling on social media to watching endless YouTube videos, technology is the biggest reason why we can’t switch off. This is why it’s important to take regular screen breaks so you can become more present. Try these digital-detox tips:

• Stop using devices at least two hours before bed.
• Switch your social media alerts off.
• Try to avoid posting all your activities on social media.
• Switch off your laptop after work if possible.
• Create ‘no device’ zones, like your bedroom, at home.

Note: Finally, the best way to let go of what’s weighing you down is therapy. Therapy can often be expensive, but there are some free and affordable options available:

• The South African Depression and Anxiety Group, which has toll-free mental health helplines
• The Counselling Hub, a low-cost counselling service
• LifeLine, which offers free counselling for all age groups

The information in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.